Reinhard Bonnke

Reinhard Bonnke (April 19, 1940 – December 7, 2019) was a German-American Pentecostal[1] evangelist, principally known for his gospel missions throughout Africa. Bonnke had been an evangelist and missionary in Africa since 1967
Early life
Reinhard Bonnke was born on 19 April 1940 in Königsberg, East Prussia, Germany[2] the son of an army logistics officer. With his mother and siblings, he was taken to Denmark during the evacuation of East Prussia, and spent some years in a displaced persons centre.[3] He was born again at the age of nine after his mother spoke with him about a sin that he had committed.[4] He left for missionary work in Africa at the age of 10 and said that he had the experience of Baptism in the Holy Spirit. After war service, his father had become a pastor.[5]

Bonnke studied at The Bible College of Wales in Swansea, where he was inspired by the director Samuel Rees Howells. In one meeting after Howells spoke of answered prayer, Bonnke prayed, "Lord, I also want to be a man of faith. I want to see your way of providing for needs." [6] Passing through London, he had a chance meeting with the famous preacher George Jeffreys, who encouraged the young German student.[7] After graduation, he pastored in Germany for seven years. He began his ministry in Africa, with which he was principally identified, preaching in Lesotho in 1967. He subsequently held evangelical meetings across the continent.[8]

Death
Reinhard Bonnke died on December 7, 2019,[9] surrounded by his family according to a statement signed by his wife.[10] Bonnke had announced on his official facebook page in November 2019 that he had undergone femur surgery and needed time to "learn how to walk again".[11]

African mission
Early on, Bonnke encountered poor results from his evangelistic efforts and felt frustrated at the pace of his ministry. Bonnke claims to have had a recurring dream featuring a picture of the map of Africa being spread with red and heard the voice of God crying "Africa Shall Be Saved". This led him to adopt large-scale evangelism, rather than the traditional small scale missionary approach. He rented a stadium in Gaborone, and preached with little cooperation from local churches. Beginning with only 100 people, the stadium meetings grew.

In 1974, Bonnke founded the mission organisation 'Christ For All Nations' (abbreviated CfaN).[4] Originally based in Johannesburg, South Africa, the headquarters were relocated to Frankfurt, Germany in 1986. This was done primarily to distance the organisation from South Africa's apartheid policy at the time.[4] Today CfaN has 9 offices across 5 continents.[12]

Bonnke began his ministry holding tent meetings that accommodated large crowds. According to an account published by the Christian Broadcasting Network, in 1984 he commissioned the construction of what was claimed to be the world’s largest mobile structure – a tent capable of seating 34,000; this was destroyed in a wind storm just before a major meeting and therefore the team decided to hold the event in the open air instead. According to this account, the event was subsequently attended by over 100,000 people which is far greater than the 34,000 seating capacity the tents could contain.[8]

Bonnke announced his 'farewell gospel crusade' to be held in Lagos, Nigeria in November 2017. Lagos is also the location of a gospel crusade held in 2000 which, according to CfaN, is the organisation's largest to-date, drawing an attendance of 6 million people.[13] In 2019 Reinhard Bonnke will headline the G12 Africa Conference in Pretoria, South Africa.

Controversy
In 1991, during Bonnke's visit to Kano in Nigeria, there were riots in the city as Muslims protested over remarks he had reportedly made about Islam in the city of Kaduna on his way to Kano.[14] A rumor was spread that Bonnke was planning to “lead an invasion” into Kano. Muslim youths gathered at the Kofar Mata Eide-ground where they were addressed by several clerics who claimed that Bonnke was going to blaspheme Islam. About 8,000 youths gathered at the Emir's palace and after noon prayers the riots ensued, during which many Christians sustained various injuries and several churches were burned.[15][16][17] After nine years he returned to Nigeria to preach.

Personal life
After graduating from the Bible College of Wales and returning to Germany, Bonnke led a series of meetings in Rendsburg. He began receiving speaking invitations from all around Germany and the rest of the world. Bonnke met Anni Suelze at a gospel music festival, and admired the grace with which she recovered from a wrongly pitched music performance at the expense of losing the competition. He offered to preach at the church she attended one Sunday and fell in love with her. They married in 1964 and had three children.

Autobiography
Bonnke's Autobiography, Living a Life of Fire is a collection of stories of his life including accounts of his childhood growing up during the Second World War and living in prison camps to his early years in ministry and how he believed God used him to bring the gospel of salvation to Africa

غليندا جاكسون

جليندا ماي جاكسون (Glenda May Jackson)، CBE (ولدت في 9 مايو من عام 1936) هي سياسية بريطانية منضمة لـ حزب العمل وممثلة سابقة. وهي نائبة برلمانية (MP) منذ 1992، واليوم هي نائبة عن دائرة هامبستيد وكيلبيرن. وفيما سبق، كانت نائبة عن دائرة هامبستيد وهايغيت. وبعد التغييرات الانتخابية التي طرأت على الانتخابات العامة لعام 2010، كانت غالبية الأصوات الفارقة، 42 صوتًا، أقرب النتائج في تاريخ الانتخابات بأكملها.

وكممثلة، حصلت على جائزة الأوسكار (Academy Award)مرتين: أحسن ممثلة: عن دورها في نساء عاشقات (Women in Love) (عام 1969) ودورها في لمسة أرستقراطية (A Touch of Class) (عام 1973)
النشأة والتعليم
وُلدت جاكسون في بيركينهيد في ويرال، في تشيشاير، حيث كان والدها بناء. تلقت جاكسون تعليمها في مدرسة كيربي الغربية المتوسطة للبنات، ثم عملت لمدة عامين في محل كيميائي بوتس (Boots)، قبل أن تدرس في RADA في بلومزبيري.

العمل الفني
وبعد دراسته التمثيل في الأكاديمية الملكية للفنون المسرحية، بدأت جاكسون حياتها المهنية على المسرح ، في مناضد منفصلة (Separate Tables)لـ تيرانس راتيجان (Terence Rattigan) في عام 1957، وحياتها السينمائية بدورها في هذه الحياة السعيدة (This Sporting Life) في 1963. وبعد ذلك، انضمت إلى شركة شكسبير الملكية (Royal Shakespeare Company) لمدة أربعة أعوام، وعملت مع المخرج بيتر بروك (Peter Brook) في العديد من إنتاجاته، بما في ذلك مارات/ساد (Marat/Sade) لـ بيتر وييس (Peter Weiss) في دور تشارلوت كورداي. كما ظهرت جاكسون كذلك في الإصدار السينمائي.

حققت جاكسون الشهرة من خلال دورها البطولي في الفيلم المثير للجدل نساء عاشقات (1969) الذي حصلت عنه على جائزة الأوسكار لأحسن ممثلة للمرة الأولى، ودورها الآخر المثير للجدل التي جسدت فيه الزوجة الشبقة زوجة تشايكوفيسكي (Tchaikovsky) في رائعة كين راسل؛ عشاق الموسيقى (The Music Lovers)، حيث أضاف لها صورة جيدة بأنها على أتم استعداد للقيام بأي شيء يخدم فنها. وقد أكدت هذه الصورة حينما حلقت شعرها لتجسد دور الملكة إليزابيث الأولى في المسلسل الذي أنتجته شركة بي بي سي عام 1971: إليزابيث ر. (Elizabeth R). وقد عرض المسلسل لاحقًا في PBS في الولايات المتحدة وحصلت جاكسون عن دورها فيه على جائزتين من جوائز إيمي. كما جسدت دور الملكة إليزابيث في الفيلم ماري، ملكة الأسكتلنديين (Mary, Queen of Scots). وظهرت في برنامج موركامب ووايز (Morecambe and Wise) عام 1971، إذ لعبت دور كليوباترا (Cleopatra) في مشهد كوميدي قصير. ونتج عن هذا الظهور ظهورها في العديد من حلقات البرنامج الأخرى، منها عروض الكريسماس (Christmas Shows) لعامي 1971 و1972. وفي عام 1971، صوّت العارضون البريطانيون لها بكونها سادس أشهر نجمات في شباك التذاكر البريطاني.

وقد رأى المخرج ميلفين فرانك (Melvin Frank) إمكانياتها الكوميدية وعرض عليها دور نسائي بطولي في مشروعه القادم. وحصدت جائزة أكاديمي الثانية لأحسن ممثلة عن دورها في لمسة أرستقراطية (1973). وعلى ما يبدو أرسل لها موركامب وويز برقية تقول: "ابقي معنا أيتها الصغيرة، لتصبحي ثالثتنا!".  ومن ثَمّ، أصبحت إحدى كبار الممثلات في بريطانيا. وفي عام 1987، حصلت على قائد رتبة الإمبراطورية البريطانية. وقد كانت واحدة من أكثر ضيوف الشرف من النجوم حضورًا في الأذهان في برنامج عرض العرائس (The Muppet Show) لأنها أخبرت المنتجين أنها ستمثل أي مشهد يحبونه؛ فاختاروا مشهدًا لعبت فيه دور مريضة بوهم أنها قائدة قراصنة تغير على مسرح للعرائس وتأسره كسفينةٍ لها. وفي عام 1989، ظهرت في رائعة كين راسيل (Ken Russell) قوس قزح (The Rainbow)، حيث لعبت دور آنا برانجوين، والدة جودرون، وهو الجزء الذي حصدت عليه جائزة الأوسكار للمرة الأولى.

وقد أُطلق اسمها على مسرح جليندا جاكسون، في مجمع شارع المنطقة الإدارية ويرال ميتروبوليتان كوليدج، في عام 1983. وقد تم إغلاقه عام 2003، وهدمه مجلس مدينة ويرال، لتوفير مساحة لبناء عقار سكني جديد في عام 2004.

العمل السياسي
تقاعدت جاكسون من مهنة التمثيل لتدخل مجلس العموم في الانتخابات العامة لعام 1992 كنائبة برلمانية عن حزب العمل عن دائرة هامبستيد وهايغيت (Hampstead and Highgate). وبعد الانتخابات العامة لعام 1997، عُينت كوزيرة صغيرة السن في حكومة رئيس الوزراءتوني بلير ( Tony Blair)، كمسؤولةٍ عن النقل في لندن، وبعد ذلك، استقالت قبل محاولة ترشيحها كمرشحة حزب العمل لخوض الانتخابات الأولى لاختيار عمدة لندن في عام 2000. وقد فاز بالترشيح فرانك دوبسون (Frank Dobson)، الذي خسر الانتخابات أمام كين ليفينجستون (Ken Livingstone)، المرشح المستقل. أما في الانتخابات العامة لعام 2005، فقد حصلت على 14516 صوتًا، بنسبة 38.29% من إجمالي الأصوات في الدائرة الانتخابية.

وباعتبارها من أبرز النواب، فقد أصبحت ناقدة دائمة لبلير نتيجةً لخططه الرامية لفرض أعلى نسبة من الرسوم في إنجلترا. وقد طالبته كذلك بالاستقالة بعد التحقيق القضائي الذي أجراه اللورد هاتون (Lord Hutton) في عام 2003 الذي دار حول أسباب الاشتراك في الحرب في العراق وموت المستشار الحكومي د. ديفيد كيلي (Dr. David Kelly) وتعتبر جاكسون بشكل عام يسارية تقليدية، فعادةً ما تخالف حكومة بلير التي تستخدم الفصيل الطرف المحايد في حزب العمل.

وبحلول أكتوبر عام 2005، وصلت مشكلاتها مع قيادة بلير إلى ذروتها حتى أنها هددت بمنافسة رئيس الوزراء كمرشحة منافسة في مسابقة القيادة إذا لم يستقل خلال فترة زمنية معقولة. وفي 31 من أكتوبر عام 2006، كانت جاكسون إحدى نواب حزب العمل الاثني عشر الذين دعموا دعوة بليد سيمرو (Plaid Cymru) والحزب الأسكتلندي الوطني لإجراء تحقيق عن حرب العراق.

وقد تغيرت حدود دائرتها الانتخابية في الانتخابات العامة لعام 2010. إذ أصبح الحيان جوسبيل آووك وهايغيت جزءًا من هولبورت وسانت بانكراس، وتحولت الدائرة الانتخابية هامبستيد وكيلبيرن إلى برنت لتتضمن أحياء برونديسبيري وكيلبيرن وكوينز بارك (من مقاعد برنت الشرقية وبرنت الجنوبية القديمة). وفي 6 مايو عام 2010، تم انتخاب جاكسون كنائبة برلمانية عن دائرة هامبستيد وكيلبيرن الجديدة بفارق 42 صوتًا على المرشح المحافظ كريس فيليب (Chris Philp) والمرشح الديمقراطي الليبرالي (Edward Fordham). فقد حصلت على ثاني أقرب النتائج وثاني أقل أغلبية لأي نائب برلماني في انتخابات عام 2010.

وفي يونيو عام 2011، أعلنت جاكسون أنها، بعد افتراض بقائها في الانتخابات البرلمانية من عام 2010 حتى عام 2015، لن تخوض الانتخابات مرة أخرى. كما أوضحت أنها ستكون قد أتمت عامها الـ 80 تقريبًا، وسيكون قد حان الوقت لشخصٍ آخر أن يتولى المهمة عنها.

الحياة الشخصية
أنجبت جاكسون ولدها الوحيد، دانييل (Daniel)، عام 1969 من زواجها بروي هودجز (Roy Hodges). دان هودجيز (Dan Hodges) هو مستشار عمالي ومعلق. وكانت حاملاً في شهرها الخامس عند انتهائها من تصوير فيلم نساء عاشقات. وقد استمر زواجها من هودجيز من 1958 إلى أن انفصلا في 1976

Glenda Jackson

Glenda May Jackson CBE (born 9 May 1936) is an Academy Award winning English actress and former Labour Party politician. A professional actress from the late 1950s onwards, Jackson spent four years as a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1964, and was particularly associated with the work of director Peter Brook. She has won two Academy Awards for Best Actress: for Women in Love (1970) and A Touch of Class (1973). She has also won awards for her performances as Alex in the film Sunday Bloody Sunday and in the BBC television serial Elizabeth R (both 1971); receiving two Primetime Emmy Awards for the latter. In 2018, Jackson won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance in a revival of Edward Albee's Three Tall Women, and is thus one of the few performers to have achieved the "triple crown of acting".

Jackson has also had a career in politics, which began in 1992, when she was elected the MP for Hampstead and Highgate. Early in the government of Tony Blair, she served as a Junior Transport minister from 1997 to 1999, later becoming critical of Blair. After constituency-boundary changes, from 2010 she represented Hampstead and Kilburn. At the general election in that year, her majority of 42 votes was one of the closest results of the entire election.[2] She announced in 2011 that she would stand down at the 2015 general election.
Early life and career
Jackson was born in Birkenhead on the Wirral, Cheshire, where her father was a builder, and her mother worked in shops and as a cleaner.[3] Jackson was educated at the West Kirby County Grammar School for Girls, and performed at the Townswomen's Guild drama group during her teens.[3] She worked for two years in a branch of the Boots the Chemist chain before taking up a scholarship in 1954 to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).[4]

Jackson made her professional stage debut in Terence Rattigan's Separate Tables in 1957 while at RADA[5] and appeared in repertory for the next six years.[6] Her film debut was a bit part in This Sporting Life (1963). A member of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) for four years from 1964, she originally joined for director Peter Brook's 'Theatre of Cruelty' season which included Peter Weiss' Marat/Sade (1965) in which she played an inmate of an insane asylum portraying Charlotte Corday, the assassin of Jean-Paul Marat.[7] The production ran on Broadway in 1965 and in Paris[6] (Jackson appeared in the 1967 film version). Jackson also appeared as Ophelia in Peter Hall's production of Hamlet in the same year.[8] Critic Penelope Gilliatt thought Jackson was the only Ophelia she had seen who was ready to play the Prince himself.[9]

The RSC's staging at the Aldwych Theatre of US (1966), a protest play against the Vietnam War, also featured Jackson, and she appeared in its film version, Tell Me Lies.[10] Later that year, she starred in the psychological drama Negatives (1968), which was not a huge financial success, but won her more good reviews.

Career
1969–1980: Critical and commercial success
Jackson's starring role in Ken Russell's film adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's Women in Love (1969) led to her winning her first Academy Award for Best Actress. Brian McFarlane, the main author of The Encyclopedia of British Film, has written: "Her blazing intelligence, sexual challenge and abrasiveness were at the service of a superbly written role in a film with a passion rare in the annals of British cinema."[11]

In the process of gaining funding for The Music Lovers (1970) from United Artists, Russell explained it as "the story of a homosexual who marries a nymphomaniac,"[12] the couple being the composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Richard Chamberlain) and Antonina Miliukova, played by Jackson. This film received mixed reviews in the U.S.: the anonymous reviewer in Variety wrote of the two principals, "Their performances are more dramatically bombastic than sympathetic, or sometimes even believable."[13] Jackson was initially interested in the role of Sister Jeanne in The Devils (1971), Russell's next film, but turned it down after script rewrites and deciding that she did not wish to play a third neurotic character in a row.[14]

In order to play Queen Elizabeth I in the BBC's serial Elizabeth R (1971), Jackson had her head shaved. After the series was shown on PBS in the US, Jackson received two Primetime Emmy Awards for her performance. She also portrayed Queen Elizabeth in the film Mary, Queen of Scots, and gained an Academy Award nomination and a BAFTA Award for her role in John Schlesinger's Sunday Bloody Sunday (both 1971).[15] In that year British exhibitors voted her the 6th most popular star at the British box office.[16]

In 1971 she made the first of several appearances with Morecambe and Wise, appearing in a comedy sketch as Cleopatra for the BBC Morecambe and Wise Show in which she delivered the line "All men are fools and what makes them so is having beauty like what I have got." Later appearances included a song and dance routine (in which she was pushed offstage by Eric), a period drama about Queen Victoria, and another musical routine (in their Thames Television series) in which she is elevated ten feet in the air by a misbehaving swivel chair. Jackson and Wise also appeared in an information film for the Blood Transfusion Service.

Filmmaker Melvin Frank saw her comedic potential on the Morecambe and Wise Show and offered her the lead female role in his next project. She gained a second Academy Award for Best Actress for Frank's A Touch of Class (1973), a romantic comedy co-starring George Segal. She continued to work in the theatre, and returned to the RSC to play the lead role in Ibsen's Hedda Gabler. A later film version directed by Trevor Nunn was released as Hedda (1975), for which Jackson was nominated for an Oscar. In The New York Times, Vincent Canby praised Jackson's performance: "This version of Hedda Gabler is all Miss Jackson's Hedda and, I must say, great fun to watch ... Miss Jackson's technical virtuosity is particularly suited to a character like Hedda. Her command of her voice and her body, as well as the Jackson mannerisms, have the effect of separating the actress from the character in a very curious way."[17] In 1978, she scored box office success in the United States in the romantic comedy House Calls, which co-starred Walter Matthau. Jackson and Matthau teamed again in the comedy Hopscotch (1980), which was a mild success, but not as popular as expected.[by whom?]

For her 1980 appearance on The Muppet Show, she told the producers that she would perform any material they liked; this turned out to be a role where she has a delusion that she is a pirate captain who hijacks the Muppet Theatre as her ship.

1980–1992: Later acting career
In 1985, she appeared on Broadway as Nina Leeds in a revival of Eugene O'Neill's Strange Interlude at the Nederlander Theatre in a production which had originated in London the previous year and ran for eight weeks.[3] John Beaufort for The Christian Science Monitor wrote: "Bravura is the inevitable word for Miss Jackson's display of feminine wiles and brilliant technique."[18] Frank Rich in The New York Times thought Jackson, "with her helmet of hair and gashed features," when Leeds is a young woman, "looks like a cubist portrait of Louise Brooks," and later when the character has aged several decades, is "mesmerizing as a Zelda Fitzgeraldesque neurotic, a rotting and spiteful middle-aged matron and, finally, a spent, sphinx-like widow happily embracing extinction."[19] Herbert Wise directed a British television version of O'Neill's drama which was first broadcast in the US as part of PBS's American Playhouse in January 1988.[20]

In 1985, Jackson appeared in the title role of Racine's Phèdre at The Old Vic. The Daily Telegraph's John Barber wrote of her performance, "Wonderfully impressive . . . The actress finds a voice as jagged and hoarse as her torment." Benedict Nightingale in the New Statesman was intrigued that Jackson didn't go in for nobility, but played Racine's feverish queen as if to say that "being skewered in the guts by Cupid is an ugly, bitter, humiliating business."[21]

In 1989, Jackson appeared in Ken Russell's The Rainbow, playing Anna Brangwen, mother of Gudrun, the part which had won her her first Academy Award twenty years earlier. Also in that year she played Martha in a Los Angeles production of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at the Doolittle Theatre (now the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre). Directed by the playwright himself, this staging featured John Lithgow as George. Dan Sullivan in the Los Angeles Times wrote that Jackson and Lithgow performed "with the assurance of dedicated character assassins, not your hire-and-salary types" with the actors being able to display their character's capacity for antipathy.[22] Albee was disappointed with this production, pointing to Jackson who he thought "had retreated back to the thing she can do very well, that ice cold performance. I don't know whether she got scared, but in rehearsal she was being Martha, and the closer we got to opening the less Martha she was!"[23]

She performed the lead role in Howard Barker's Scenes from an Execution as Galactia, a sixteenth century female Venetian artist, at the Almeida Theatre in 1990.[24] It was an adaptation of Barker's 1984 radio play in which Jackson had played the same role.[25]

1992–2015: Political career
Jackson retired from acting in order to stand for election to the House of Commons in the 1992 general election, subsequently becoming the Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate. She has stated that she felt Britain was being "destroyed" by the policies of Thatcher and the Conservative government, so that she was willing to do "anything that was legal" to oppose her.[26]

Following a period as shadow minister for transport, following the 1997 general election, she was appointed as parliamentary under secretary of state (a junior minister) in the government of Prime Minister Tony Blair,[27] with responsibility for London Transport, a post from which she resigned in 1999 before an unsuccessful attempt to be nominated as the Labour Party candidate for the election of the first Mayor of London in 2000. In the 2005 general election, she received 14,615 votes, representing 38.29% of the votes cast in the constituency.

As a high-profile backbencher, she became a regular critic of Blair over his plans to introduce higher education tuition fees in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. She also called for him to resign following the Judicial Enquiry by Lord Hutton in 2003 surrounding the reasons for going to war in Iraq and the death of government adviser Dr. David Kelly. Jackson was generally considered to be a traditional left-winger, often disagreeing with the dominant Blairite governing Third Way faction in the Labour Party. Jackson is also a republican.[28]

By October 2005, her disagreements with Blair's leadership swelled to a point where she threatened to challenge the Prime Minister as a stalking horse candidate in a leadership contest if he did not stand down within a reasonable amount of time. On 31 October 2006, Jackson was one of 12 Labour MPs to back Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party's call for an inquiry into the Iraq War.[29]

Her constituency boundaries changed for the 2010 general election. The Gospel Oak and Highgate wards became part of Holborn & St Pancras, and the new Hampstead & Kilburn constituency switched into Brent to include Brondesbury, Kilburn and Queens Park wards (from the old Brent East and Brent South seats). On 6 May 2010, Jackson was elected as the MP for the new Hampstead and Kilburn constituency with a margin of 42 votes over Conservative Chris Philp, with the Liberal Democrat candidate Edward Fordham less than a thousand votes behind them. She had the second closest result and second smallest majority of any MP in the 2010 election.

In June 2011, Jackson announced that, presuming the Parliament elected in 2010 lasted until 2015, she would not seek re-election. She stated: "I will be almost 80 and by then it will be time for someone else to have a turn".[30] The eventual election was held two days before her 79th birthday.

In April 2013, Jackson gave a speech in parliament following the death of Margaret Thatcher.[31] She accused Thatcher of treating "vices as virtues" and stated that because of Thatcherism England was susceptible to unprecedented unemployment rates and homelessness.[32]

Another speech of Jackson's went viral in June 2014 when she gave a scathing assessment of Iain Duncan Smith's tenure as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, telling him that he was responsible for the "destruction of the welfare state and the total and utter incompetence of his department."[33][34]

2015–present: Return to acting
In 2015, Jackson returned to acting following a 23-year absence, having retired from politics. She took the role of Dide, the ancient matriarch, in a series of Radio 4 plays, Blood, Sex and Money, based on a series of novels by Émile Zola. She returned to the stage at the end of 2016, playing the title role in William Shakespeare's King Lear at the Old Vic Theatre in London, in a production running from 25 October to 3 December. Jackson was nominated for Best Actress at the Olivier Awards for her role, but ultimately lost out to Billie Piper. She did, however, win the Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress at the 2017 Evening Standard Theatre Awards for her performance.[35] Dominic Cavendish of The Telegraph wrote, "Glenda Jackson is tremendous as King Lear. No ifs, no buts. In returning to the stage at the age of 80, 25 years after her last performance (as the Clytemnestra-like Christine in Eugene O'Neill’s Mourning Becomes Electra at the Glasgow Citizens), she has pulled off one of those 11th-hour feats of human endeavour that will surely be talked about for years to come by those who see it."[36]

In 2018, Jackson returned to Broadway in a revival of Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women, winning the 2018 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. Marilyn Stasio of Variety wrote, "Watching Glenda Jackson in theatrical flight is like looking straight into the sun. Her expressive face registers her thoughts while guarding her feelings. But it's the voice that really thrills. Deeply pitched and clarion clear, it's the commanding voice of stern authority. Don't mess with this household god or she'll turn you to stone."[37]

Jackson returned to the role of King Lear on Broadway in a production that opened in April 2019.[38] Director Sam Gold describes her portrayal of Lear in The New York Times Magazine : "She is going to go through something most people don't go through. You're all invited. Glenda Jackson is going to endure this, and you're going to witness it."[39]

Personal life
Jackson has a son, Dan Hodges, born in 1969 from her marriage to Roy Hodges; he has worked as a Labour Party adviser and commentator,[40] and a well-known political blogger who describes himself as a "Blairite cuckoo".[41] She was five months pregnant when filming on Women in Love was completed Her marriage to Hodges lasted from 1958 until their divorce in 1976.[42 

Honours
In 1978, Jackson was awarded a CBE.

Povetkin

Alexander Vladimirovich "Sasha" Povetkin (Russian: Алекса́ндр Влади́мирович Пове́ткин; born 2 September 1979) is a Russian professional boxer who held the WBA (Regular) heavyweight title from 2011 to 2013. As an amateur he won a gold medal in the super-heavyweight division at the 2004 Olympics, gold at the 2003 World Championships, and consecutive gold at the 2002 and 2004 European Championships. As of December 2019, Povetkin is ranked as the world's sixth best active heavyweight by BoxRec, and seventh by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board and The Ring magazine.
Amateur career
After a successful amateur kickboxing career that included winning World Junior championship in 1997, World title in 1999 and a European professional kickboxing title in 2000, Povetkin won his first major boxing tournament at the Russian Championships in 2000 at the age of 21. This would be the beginning of several major amateur tournaments Povetkin would go on to win including; the Good Will Games in Brisbane, Australia in 2001; the 34th European Championship in 2002; the XII World Championship in 2003 held in Thailand; and the 35th European Championship in 2004. His amateur success would culminate in winning the gold medal at super-heavyweight (>91 kg) boxing at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, in a walkover match over Egyptian Mohamed Aly. After taking Olympic Gold, he concluded his amateur career with a record of 125–7, with all losses avenged
Highlights
2002 won the gold medal at the European Championships in Perm, Russia at Super heavyweight. Results were:
Defeated Kurban Günebakan (Turkey) DISQ-2
Defeated Bsisi Taufiq (Israel) RSCO-3
Defeated Sebastian Kober (Germany) RSCH-4
Defeated Roberto Cammarelle (Italy) PTS (20–16)
2003 won the gold medal at the World Championships in Bangkok at Super heavyweight. Results were:
Defeated Djamal Madjidov (Ukraine) KO-2
Defeated Grzegorz Kielsa (Poland) PTS (20–9)
Defeated Rustam Saidov (Uzbekistan) PTS (30–10)
Defeated Pedro Carrion (Cuba) PTS (29–27)
2004 won the gold medal at the European Championships in Pula, Croatia at Super heavyweight. Results were:
Defeated Ivica Bacurin (Croatia) RSCO-3
Defeated Vladimer Tchanturia (Georgia) WO
Defeated Nikola Vujasinovic (Switzerland) RSCO-2 (21–0)
Defeated Jaroslav Jaksto (Lithuania) RSCO-3
Defeated Roberto Cammarelle (Italy) PTS (30–26)
2004 won the gold medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens at Super heavyweight representing Russia. Results were:
Defeated Sergey Rozhnov (Bulgaria) – RSC-4
Defeated Mukhtarkhan Dildabekov (Kazakhstan) – PTS (31–15)
Defeated Roberto Cammarelle (Italy) – PTS (31–19)
Defeated Mohamed Aly (Egypt) – Aly retired in the match, due to an injured right hand.
Professional career
2005–2006: Prospect
After winning the gold medal in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, Povetkin took a year off before making the decision to turn pro. After meeting with several fight promoters, Povetkin signed a contract to fight for Sauerland Events. Unlike other promoters, Sauerland would allow Povetkin to train mainly in his native Russia and fight primarily out of Germany. Povetkin made his professional debut in Germany 11 June 2005 by defeating German Muhammad Ali Durmaz by second round TKO. He followed that victory, in September, with a fourth-round KO over Cerrone Fox and then by a first-round knockout over John Castle less than a month later, although Castle was a last minute replacement for another fighter. In November, Povetkin won a one-sided four-round decision over Canadian Stephane Tessier and finished off the year by gaining a technical knockout in 5 win over American Willie Chapman in December.

Povetkin stated early in the year that he wanted to fight five times in 2006. His first fight on his way of accomplishing this happened on 4 March 2006 when Povetkin scored a 2nd-round TKO over Nigerian 1992 Olympic bronze medal winner Richard Bango. Though Bango had some success in the first round, Povetkin rallied, to not only win that round, but to knock out Bango in the next.

For his next fight, on 22 April, Povetkin signed up for his most important fight up until that date by facing Friday Ahunanya. Povetkin vs. Ahunanya drew attention in the boxing community because Ahunanya was believed to be a tough opponent for someone with only six fights. Despite this, the fight was fairly one-sided and Povetkin won by a clear unanimous decision.

He followed up those wins with a fourth-round KO in Hannover, Germany on 3 June 2006 against Ecuador's Livin Castillo, Povetkin's first south paw opponent and a fifth-round KO on 23 September 2006 against veteran American Ed Mahone in Wetzlar, Germany.

His final fight of the year was held on 10 December against ex-Cruiserweight title holder Imamu Mayfield. Mayfield became Povetkin's opponent after original opponent Ross Purrity was injured before the fight. It was Povetkin's first pro fight in his native Russia and was held on the undercard of Oleg Maskaev's first WBC title defence; the first time a Heavyweight Championship bout was held in Russia. Povetkin won the fight by way of a KO in the third round, bringing his total record to 10 wins in 10 fights by the end of the year.

2007–2008: IBF heavyweight title tournament
On 3 March 2007 Povetkin scored another TKO, this time over experienced American, David Bostice. The fight ended in the second round. Following that fight, Povetkin had a more of a stay busy fight, winning for the fifth straight time by KO, this time in the second round over Canada's Patrice L'Heureux.

Alexander Povetkin's next fight 30 June 2007, was against experienced American contender, Larry Donald. Donald held victories over such illustrious figures as ex-champion Evander Holyfield and had narrowly lost his most recent fight to former belt holder Nikolai Valuev. Donald was considered, by many, to be a very good test for a prospect such as Povetkin, a test that Povetkin passed decisively, winning unanimously.

This was the first time Povetkin had gone the full distance of ten rounds in a professional boxing fight, though he did go ten rounds as a pro kick-boxer. The win over Donald was considered solid, and Povetkin continued his emergence as a promising heavyweight boxing contender.[3]

In July, the IBF announced it had created a four-person tournament to create a challenger for current IBF (and WBO) Champion Wladimir Klitschko.

On 27 October 2007 Povetkin met Chris Byrd, who had lost his title to Klitschko the year before. Povetkin won by way of an 11th-round TKO victory. Byrd put up more resistance than Donald, but ultimately was overwhelmed, and his corner threw in the towel.[4][5]

Less than a week later, Eddie Chambers won a split decision victory over former title challenger Calvin Brock. This advanced Povetkin and Chambers to the final round of the tournament.[6] On 26 January 2008, after initial problems Povetkin defeated Chambers by unanimous decision to become the mandatory challenger for Klitschko.[7] On 19 July 2008, Povetkin knocked out Taurus Sykes in the fourth round.[8]

Povetkin was supposed to challenge Klitschko on 13 December 2008, but on 25 October, he withdrew from the Klitschko fight due to an injury. The IBF then announced that Klitschko would have until 13 September 2009 to fight Povetkin, but that option was not exercised.

2009–2010: Staying busy
After nine months inactivity due to his injury, Povetkin won a comeback against once-beaten PanAm amateur champion Jason Estrada on 4 April 2009 by unanimous decision.[9] On 10 July 2009 Teddy Atlas announced on Friday Night Fights that Povetkin would be temporarily relocated to New York under his helm, where he can train him full-time. On 5 December, Povetkin fought in Ludwigsburg, Germany, against Leo Nolan, winning with a third-round KO.

On 13 March 2010 Povetkin continued his unbeaten run beating Javier Mora in decisive action dropping him in the first, second and fifth rounds leading to the referee stopping the fight declaring him the winner by TKO.

2011–2013: WBA (Regular) heavyweight champion
Povetkin vs. Chagaev
After Wladimir Klitschko unified his WBO and IBF titles with David Haye's WBA title, Klitschko was upgraded to "Super Champion" by the WBA, thus making the "Regular Champion" title vacant.[10] On 6 July 2011 negotiations for Povetkin to fight former WBA champion Ruslan Chagaev (27-1-1, 17 KOs) for the vacant title began between Sauerland, who promote Povetkin, and Chagaev's promoter Universum.[11] Two days later, Povetkin's trainer confirmed the fight would take place on 27 August.[12] With Atlas in his corner, Povetkin bested Chagaev by unanimous decision to capture the WBA (Regular) heavyweight title at the Messehalle arena in Erfurt, Germany. Povetkin withstood a middle-round challenge from Chagaev, but worked his foe into submission in the later rounds of the bout. He walked away victorious thanks to 117–113, 117–113, and 116–112 scorecards.[13][14]

Following the fight, 48 year old former world champion Evander Holyfield entered the ring to congratulate Povetkin. Holyfield also attended the post-fight press conference and made the intention of challenging Povetkin for the WBA title.[15] Povetkin announced his first defence would be in December 2011, possibly in Zurich, Switzerland.[16]

Povetkin vs. Boswell
On 16 October 2011, a fight between Povetkin and 42 year old American heavyweight contender Cedric Boswell (35-1, 26 KOs) was close to being confirmed for 3 December at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki. Boswell was on a 14-fight win streak since his sole defeat to former four-time world title challenger Jameel McCline. The fight was originally offered to former WBC champion Hasim Rahman, who asked for more money than Sauerland Event's could offer. Povetkin's team then spoke to the WBA about possible opponents. Most of the ranked fighters were not willing to travel to fight Povetkin, where as some contenders were not available. French heavyweight Jean Marc Mormeck turned down the opportunity to fight Povetkin because he was being lined up to challenge then-unified world champion Wladimir Klitschko.[17] On 21 October, Boswell confirmed that he had signed the deal and a day later, a heavyweight double-header was announced for 3 December. The other fight being Robert Helenius vs. Dereck Chisora.[18][19][20] Povetkin already started his training with Kostya Tszyu and cruiserweight contender Denis Lebedev and in mid-October, Teddy Atlas joined the training camp.[21] Povetkin won the fight by 8th-round KO. At the time of the stoppage, Povetkin was ahead 70–63, 69–64, and 70–63 on the scorecards. Povetkin came alive in the fight at the midway point, rocking Boswell a few times with some hard punches. In the 8th round, Povetkin connected with a combination that dropped Boswell and eventually counted out. Boswell managed to get to his feet after the count had finished, only to fall back down.[22][23][24]

Povetkin vs. Huck
In December 2011, a deal was reached for Povetkin to make his second defence against then WBO cruiserweight champion Marco Huck (34-1, 25KOs) on 25 February 2012 at Porsche Arena in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. Huck made the challenge in the post fight press conference of Povetkin's win over Boswell. It was noted that Huck would not vacate his WBO title, until after the fight, where he would assess the situation.[25] Huck stated if he was to win the title, he would likely remain at heavyweight to challenge one of the Klitschko brothers, but would be given 10 days by the WBO to decide.[26][27] Huck reached out to David Haye and Evander Holyfield to help with sparring.[28] In January 2012, the promoters of Huck, Povetkin and Rahman attended a meeting where they discussed the winner of Povetkin vs. Huck would defend the WBA title against Rahman next.[29] During this time, trainer Teddy Atlas failed to travel to Russia and announced he had parted ways with Povetkin. Russian trainer Alexander Zimin stepped in on short notice.[30][31] For his debut at heavyweight, Huck weighed 209.4 pounds and Povetkin weighed 229.2 pounds.[32]

Povetkin won the fight via majority decision. The fight proved to be a tough test for Povetkin. One judge scored the fight a 114–114 draw, whilst the remaining two judges scoring the fight 116–113, and 116–112 in favour of Povetkin. All three ringside announcers from EPIX scored the fight in favour of Huck. Chisora and Dimitrenko, who were sat ringside, scored the fight a draw. Arthur Abraham and Tomasz Adamek scored the fight clearly for Huck.[33][34] The opening round started off slow however Povetkin started taking over the fight landing body shots and using his straight rights. In round 4, Huck began to let his hands go and found his range, even rocking Povetkin. Huck controlled the championship rounds as Povetkin began to show signs of fatigue. Huck came close to dropping Povetkin in the final round.[35][36] After the fight, Povetkin admitted, "I underestimated him. Perhaps I didn't take this fight seriously enough." Huck said, "A lot of people who saw this fight see me as the winner." It was reported that Huck had injured his right between rounds 6 and 7. The verdict was met with boos around the arena.[37][38][39]

Povetkin vs. Rahman, Wawrzyk
Despite rematch called for Povetkin vs. Huck, Team Sauerland firmly stated that as previously negotiated, a fight with former WBC world champion Hasim Rahman (50-7-2, 41 KOs) would be next.[40] It was originally for 14 July 2012 at Upton Park in West Ham, London, with David Haye vs. Dereck Chisora as the main event. The venue was later changed to Alsterdorfer Sporthalle in Alsterdorf, Hamburg.[41][42] On 28 June, Rahman pulled out with a hand injury.[43][44] The fight was rescheduled for 29 September with Kubrat Pulev vs. Alexander Ustinov for the European title as co-feature.[44][45] The opening round saw very little action between both fighters. Round 2 saw Povetkin come out throwing and landing at will with Rahman spending most of the round against the ropes. Rahman did not throw back and eventually referee Gustavo Padilla stepped in to stop the fight. At the same time, Rahman's corner appeared to be on the ring apron with a towel. The fight was slated as a miss-match. After the fight, Povetkin said, "I'm ready to fight everybody. When (my handlers) say it's time to fight Klitschko, I will be ready. He's the best heavyweight in the world and I will be ready to fight him." According to CompuBox Stats, Povetkin landed 42 of 85 punches thrown (49%), this included 33 power punches and Rahman landed 10 of his 44 thrown (23%), 2 of which were power shots.[46][47][48][49]

In April 2013, prior to a big showdown with Wladimir Klitschko, Povetkin chose to fight Andrzej Wawrzyk (27-0, 13 KOs) on 17 May, in a voluntary title defence.[50] Team Sauerland revealed as part of the deal, if Wawrzyk pulled an upset, he would sign with Sauerland Event on a 3-fight deal.[51] The fight took place at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow. Like most of Povetkin's fights, the first round had very little action. Povetkin dropped Wawrzyk in round 2 with a right hand. Wawrzyk beat the count and barely made it to the end of the round. In round 3, Povetkin carried on landing big punches, dropping Wawrzyk a further two times before the referee intervened to stop the fight. In the post-fight, Povetkin said, "I just wanted to show some offensive arsenal. I trained for a longer fight but, well, it has ended pretty fast. We didn't plan to win by a TKO."[52][53][54]

Povetkin vs. Klitschko
At the end of 2012, the World Boxing Association ordered its super-champion Wladimir Klitschko (60-3, 52 KOs) to fight regular-champion Povetkin by 24 February 2013,[55] but the two sides couldn't reach an agreement.[56] WBA let Klitschko have another voluntary title defence before taking on Povetkin, but there should have been a signed contract with Povetkin before 28 February, with a new deadline for their bout no later than 31 July.[57][58][59]

Promoter Vladimir Hryunov won the right to promote Klitschko vs. Povetkin with a purse bid of $23,333,330 and Russian businessman Andrey Ryabinsky putting up the money. Failed bids made were from K2 Promotions ($7,130,000) and Povetkin's promoter Sauerland Event ($6,014,444). It allowed Ryabinsky to dictate the location of the fight and guaranteed the fighters the biggest purses of their careers. Based on being entitled to 75 percent of the winning bid, Klitschko got $17,499,997, while Povetkin received $5,833,333.[60] The Klitschko camp were said to be surprised by the bid.[61]

The fight took place in October 2013, Klitschko's third consecutive undefeated opponent. The bout was marred with over 160 clinches, most initiated by Klitschko, followed by several repeated roughhouse tactics throughout the match. This included Klitschko's leaning on his opponent and pushing his head down and throwing Povetkin away to prevent Povetkin from clinching, which resulted in the referee scoring some of Povetkin's fallings as knockdowns, as well as Povetkin's punching after referee's break command and leaning his head too low.[62] Klitschko won by unanimous decision scoring a knockdown in round 2 from a quick left hook, and 3 knockdowns in round 7 including one prompted from a straight right hand. All 3 judges scored it 119–104 on the scorecards.[63][64][65] Klitschko landed 139 of 417 punches (33%) and Povetkin connected on 59 of 283 (21%).[66] After the fight, Klitschko told in the interview that he had little desire to go for the knockout as the Russian crowd would be disappointed, which lead to speculations about the alleged agreement between the champion and organisers to let the bout go the distance,[67][68][69] which Klitschko later denied. With 9.2 rating, the fight became the most popular sporting event on Russian television in 2013, as well as the most watched TV programme of the year in the capital of Russia with 13.9 rating, surpassing the Moscow Victory Day Parade.[70][71]

2014–2015: Return victories
Povetkin vs. Charr, Takam
Povetkin bounced back in 2014, completely changing his training routine and diet. On 2 May 2014, it was confirmed that he would fight former WBC title challenger, WBC #7 ranked Manuel Charr (26-1, 15 KOs) on 30 May.[72][73] Povetkin claimed the vacant WBC International title after stopping Charr in 7 rounds. Both fighters started off strong with Charr landing his jab, however at the same time, Povetkin managed to land big uppercuts. Over the next three rounds, both fighters continued to press on the attack. At the end of round 4, Charr had managed to only win one round on all three judges scorecards. In round 7, Povetkin landed a three-punch combination which dropped Charr, flat on his back. Referee Massimo Barrovecchio did not count and stopped the fight immediately at 1 minute and 9 seconds.[74][75][76][77]

In August 2014 it was announced a deal was close to being reached which would see Povetkin challenge French-Cameroonian contender Carlos Takam (30-1-1, 23 KOs) for his WBC Silver heavyweight title.[78] A few days later, World of Boxing promoter Andrei Ryabinsky stated the contracts had been signed for the fight to take place on 24 October at the Palace of Sports in Luzhniki.[79] In what was considered a back and forth fight and potential fight of the year, Povetkin scored a round 10 KO win to secure the WBC Silver title. At the end of round 4, two judges had Takam ahead 39–37 and 39–38, whilst the remaining judge had Povetkin ahead 39–37. From round 8, Povetkin began to increase the number of punches he was throwing and in round 9, referee Kenny Bayless issued a standing 8-count to Takam after Povetkin landed some unanswered shots, which had Takam held up by the ropes. Takam failed to recover and in round 10, Povetkin landed a left hook to his chin, dropping Takam. Bayless waved the fight off immediately.[80][81][82] BoxingScene.com voted the final punch as their knockout of the year for 2014.[83]

Povetkin vs. Perez, Wach
It was announced that Povetkin's next fight against Irish based Cuban contender Mike Perez (21-1-1, 13 KOs) would take place on 22 May 2015 and serve as a final eliminator for the WBC heavyweight title, held by American boxer Deontay Wilder.[84] Due to the winner potentially being next in line to challenge Wilder, ESPN announced they would air the fight live on ESPN3.com.[85] Povetkin earned a mandatory title shot by knocking out Perez in the first round in devastating fashion. The fight lasted just 91 seconds. Povetkin sent the southpaw Perez down with three right hands. Perez beat the count, then took a beating on the ropes, ending the contest.[86][87][88]

Following the win over Perez, Povetkin stated that he would wait for the Wilder fight to materialise until he fought again. Wilder arranged to fight his last available voluntary defence against Johann Duhaupas.

In August 2015, a deal was reached for Povetkin to fight once beaten former world title challenger Mariusz Wach (31-1, 17 KOs) in Kazan, Russia 4 November 2015. Wach had previously gone 12 rounds with Wladimir Klitschko. The fight would be the main event of a packed Russian card that featured multiple world title fights.[89] After the fight was announced, Povetkin spoke of his disappointment of not being able to land Wilder on the same date.[90] Wach started off the fight with success, keeping the smaller Povetkin at range with his jab. But as the rounds went on, Povetkin was able to find his range and begin to push Wach around the ring with combinations on the inside. Towards the end of the fight, with both participants cut, Povetkin urged a referee stoppage as he deemed Wach, who was being hit at will essentially, unable to continue.[91][92] On the morning of the fight, the WBC approved another voluntary defence for Wilder, which would likely take place in January 2015. This meant the potential Wilder vs. Povetkin fight would take place around May 2015.[93] Wach allegedly only received 10% of his purse, due to his ongoing difficulties with his promoter Jimmy Burchfield. In December, it was reported that Wach failed a post-fight drug test.[94][95]

2016: WBC heavyweight title contention
Povetkin vs. Wilder, cancellation
It was announced that Povetkin would fight WBC World Champion Deontay Wilder (36-0, 35 KOs) in Moscow, Russia, on a date set to yet be announced at the Megasport Arena. It was originally set for May 21, 2016 until Povetkin failed a drug test.[96] On May 14, it was reported that Povetkin had failed a drugs test.[97] The fight has been put in jeopardy after he tested positive for the banned substance meldonium. Promotor Andrei Ryabinsky added that Povetkin did take meldonium last year, but stopped before it was banned, and only "leftover traces of meldonium at a very low concentration" were found in a blood sample given by the 36-year-old last month. It was reported on May 15, that the assertion from Povetkin's promoter that it was in his system only because he took it late last year, before it was banned, appeared untrue.[98] The WBC announced on May 15, a week before the fight that it would be postponed.[99] On May 31, it was announced on Sky Sports by Povetkin's promoters that new drug test results prove the Povetkin is a clean athlete. The new doping test, taken May 17, showed no traces of meldonium. This was reported by VADA.[100]

Povetkin vs. Stiverne, cancellation
With Wilder out until early 2017, the WBC ordered mandatory challenger Povetkin to fight former world champion Bermane Stiverne for the interim WBC heavyweight title. Stiverne previously held the WBC title losing his first defence to Wilder. The winner would eventually go on to challenge Wilder upon his return for the full version of the title.[101] A purse bid was scheduled for October 10.[102] The purse bid was won by World of Boxing promoter Andrey Ryabinsky. The winning bid was $3.165 million, beating out the two other bids, one from Don King for $2.1 million and another from Eye of the Tiger promotions for $542,000. Povetkin and Stiverne are due to earn a base purse of $1,424,250 each due to a 50-50 split, with the winner receiving the remainder $316,500 as a bonus.[103]

On November 11, the WBC were told by VADA that Stiverne had tested positive on a drug test. It was said that the banned substance was methylhexaneamine, which is also known as dimethylamylamine or 'DMAA'. Povetkin's camp confirmed the fight will still go ahead. Stiverne claimed he ingested a post-workout supplement called SUPERPHARM without knowing it included dimethylamylamine, but under VADA’s rules an athlete is responsible for whatever goes into their body. The WBC took into account that it was Stiverne’s first offence when making its ruling and fined him $75,000.[104][105] Just 20 hours before the fight was to take place, the WBC withdrew its sanction of the fight stating Povetkin had failed another drug test, this time for Ostarine. The test was taken of December 6. Stiverne later made a statement to tell everyone he will be heading home to Las Vegas and did not want to fight if the sanction was off, as that was the whole reason for him training and taking the fight in Russia.[106][107] Following the cancellation, Stiverne's promoter Don King stated he would be filing a lawsuit against World of Boxing promoter Andrey Ryabinsky, just as Ryabinsky did against King when Lebedev pulled out of his scheduled rematch against Guillermo Jones, after Jones tested positive for a second time. At that time, Ryabinsky was awarded $1.6m in damages.[108] On December 23, Ryabinsky stated that Povetkin's sample from December 13 came back negative. Ryabinsky claimed that the test where he had tested positive contained 0,00000000001g traces of ostarine and a previous random test in November also came back negative.[109]

Povetkin vs. Duhaupas
After Stiverne withdrew himself from the title claiming he would be heading home, there was ongoing talks for WBC Silver heavyweight champion Johann Duhaupas (34-3, 21 KOs) to step in and fight Povetkin instead. Hours later it was confirmed that the fight would take place on short notice with no titles at stake.[110][111] Povetkin dominated and knocked out Duhaupas in the 6th round. Povetkin had Duhaupas hurt in the 4th round after connecting with a right hand to the head. The end came when Povetkin hurt Duhaupas with two left hooks to the head in round 6 to knock him down and out. The fight was halted by the referee, as Duhaupas was badly hurt from the left hands. The official time of the stoppage was at 2:59 of the 6th round.[112][113][114]

2017–2018: Rebuilding career
Fine and suspension
On March 3, 2017 Povetkin was handed a fine of $250,000 and banned indefinitely by the World Boxing Council for failing drug tests. Their ban meant they would no longer sanction his fights. It was also noted on the documents presented by the WBC that Povetkin would be allowed to apply in March 2018 to be included in the rankings.[115][116][91] The lifetime ban was lifted by the WBC on 8 December 2017. it was announced that Povetkin would be inserted back into the WBC rankings from January 2018.[117]

Povetkin vs. Rudenko
On 16 May 2017 it was confirmed that Povetkin would return to the ring on 1 July in Moscow. In a statement, Povetkin said: "I do not care with who I fight with. I'm sure my team will pick me a good interesting opponent, with whom we will have a spectacular fight. My job is to train and show good boxing ability. I'm ready to fight against any opponent." His promoter, Andrei Ryabinsky was in talks with several candidates.[118] On 24 May, it was announced that Povetkin would fight Andriy Rudenko (31-2, 19 KOs), who was ranked 9th by the WBO; and 13th by the WBC and IBF. The fight was being billed as a "Battle of Russia vs. Ukraine", despite the fact that Rudenko was relatively unknown in Ukraine, where the fight was featured on rather smaller TV channel XSPORT instead of Inter.[119] Rudenko was on a seven-fight winning streak following back-to-back losses to Lucas Browne and Hughie Fury.[120] On 14 June, the WBO decided to sanction the bout and announced that the vacant WBO International heavyweight title would be at stake.[121]

Soon after the fight began Rudenko had problems right away. The fight almost came to an end in the first round after Povetkin accidentally hit Rudenko in the back of his neck with an overhand punch in the middle of a clinch. Rudenko spent five minutes complaining that he had injured his neck while Povetkin waited patiently in the corner to resume but fans in attendance began to whistle in displeasure at Rudenko whom they saw as feigning injury. The ringside doctor determined that Rudenko had a spasm and that Rudenko wanted to pull out of the fight. However the referee eventually persuaded Rudenko to continue. During the interval between rounds eight and nine Rudenko again wanted to stop the fight but his corner firmly insisted on continuing. Povetkin went on to control every round winning a one-sided fight on all three judges scorecards 120–109, 120–108, and 120–108. Along with the WBO International title Povetkin also won the WBA Continental title.[122] Following the win the IBF re-instated Povetkin into the rankings for July 2017. He was placed at #13 ranking.[123]

Povetkin vs. Hammer
On 10 October 2017, it was revealed that Povetkin would return to fight at the DIVS in Yekaterinburg on 15 December. It was rumoured that his opponent would be #2 WBO Christian Hammer (22-4, 12 KOs) in a title eliminator. #4 WBO Tom Schwrtz was also considered. Povetkin's promoter, World of Boxing stated the WBO International title would be at stake. At the time, Hammer was on a five-fight win streak since his last loss, to the hands of Tyson Fury in February 2015.[124] On 23 October, Alexei Titov, executive director of RCC Boxing Promotions who were working to organise the event, stated that he would attend WBO's annual convention in the next week and ask them to sanction the bout as a final eliminator.[125] On 31 October, Hammer's promoter Erol Ceylan of EC Boxpromotion confirmed the bout.[126] A month prior to the fight, Povetkin's manager announced that former cruiserweight contender BJ Flores (34-3-1, 21 KOs), who had previously called out Povetkin, would be on standby as a replacement in case Hammer withdrew or could not make the fight. A deal could not be reached with Flores, and instead Japanese contender Kyotaro Fujimoto (18-1, 10 KOs) signed the contract to become the back-up.[127][128] On 8 November, the WBC announced that they would be lifting the lifetime ban effective immediately from 7 December 2017. From this date, WBC would start a probation period which would end on 6 December 2018. The ruling also stated that Povetkin would be re-instated in the WBC rankings in January 2018.[117][129] Povetkin outworked a survival-oriented Hammer to win a lopsided 12 round unanimous decision, in what was a final eliminator to the WBA title, held by Anthony Joshua. The three judges' scores were 120–107, 120–108, and 118–108. The referee had warned Hammer repeatedly to stop putting Povetkin in headlocks, but he did not stop, eventually having a point deducted in round 7. Hammer came alive towards the end of each round, landing some big shots, at times knocking Povetkin off balance. After the fight, promoter Andrey Ryabinskiy said, “I have confirmation from WBA that Anthony Joshua must fight the Povetkin-Hammer.”[130][131][132]

Povetkin vs. Price
On 16 January 2018, after unification fight Anthony Joshua vs. Joseph Parker was announced, promoter Eddie Hearn offered Povetkin an opportunity to fight on the undercard, which would take place on 31 March at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. Contenders Dereck Chisora and David Price were mentioned as potential opponents.[133] The next day, Price spoke to Sky Sports stating they accepted Hearn's offer and would be willing to fight Povetkin.[134] On 30 January, Hearn told a reporter a deal was close being done after Povetkin also agreed to the fight.[135] Three days later, the fight was officially confirmed.[136][137] Povetkin won the fight via knockout in round 5. Povetkin badly hurt Price with a right hand, who was then defenseless, Povetkin finished off with a left hook that put Price down flat on the canvas. Without a count, referee Howard John Foster halted the fight. The official time of the stoppage was at 1:02 of round 5. In round 3, Povetkin knocked Price down with a right hand to the head. Price got up and came back strong landing some hard punches of his own. Price hurt Povetkin late in round 3 with a left hook which resulted in Povetkin falling backwards towards the ropes. The referee ruled it a knockdown due to the ropes holding Povetkin up. Price did not take advantage of the knockdown, but it looked as though he had tired himself out. With the win, Povetkin was now in position to become Anthony Joshua's mandatory challenger from the WBA and WBO. Joshua picked up the WBO title in defeating Joseph Parker in the main event.[138] Dillian Whyte, who at the time was ranked WBC #1 stated he would fight Povetkin.[139][140]

Povetkin vs. Joshua
From April up until the end of June 2018, both camps of Anthony Joshua (21-0, 20 KOs) and Deontay Wilder were in deep talks around the super fight to finally take place.[141] The main hurdles were split, date and venue.[142][143][144][145] At one point Wilder had agreed to fight Joshua in the UK, however there was slight confusions in the contracts that were being sent back and forth.[146] At the same time, Hearn was also working a deal out for Joshua to fight WBA mandatory challenger Povetkin. The WBA initially ordered the fight after Povetkin knocked out David Price on the Joshua-Parker undercard.[147][148] Negotiations took a turn on 26 June when the WBA gave Joshua's camp 24 hours to finalise a deal with Povetkin.[149] With Joshua closer to fighting Povetkin in September 2018, Hearn stated the Joshua-Wilder fight would still take place in April 2019 at Wembley Stadium.[150] Hearn later explained that the WBA would have granted an exemption, had Wilder signed a deal to fight Joshua.[151]

On 5 July, Hearn announced the Wembley Stadium in London would host Joshua's next two fights on 22 September 2018 and again on 13 April 2019.[152] On 16 July, Joshua vs. Povetkin for the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles was officially announced for 22 September on Sky Box Office. Many British pundits and trainers spoke around how Joshua should not underestimate Povetkin and how he would pose a big threat to Joshua.[153][154]

In front of nearly 80,000 in attendance, Joshua overcame a short struggle, eventually coming out with a victory in round 7 through TKO to retain his world titles. Using his movement and coming in and out, Povetkin had Joshua hurt early on with his big shots. In round 2, Joshua's nose began to bruise. From round 5, Povetkin began to tire. Joshua dropped Povetkin with a left hand to the head in round 7. Povetkin got back up but Joshua was straight back in with a flurry of hard shots, before the referee mercifully stopped the fight.[155][156] At the time of stoppage, the three judges scorecards were 58–56, 58–56, and 59–55 in favour of Joshua. The scores did not seem to reflect Povetkin's success earlier in the fight.[157]

In the post-fight interview, Joshua stated, "I've got my knockout streak back and I found my right hand again. Alexander Povetkin is a very tough challenge. He provided that, he was good with left hook. I realized he was strong to the head but weak to the body so I was switching it up. Every jab takes a breath out of you and I slowed him down." He then announced he would post a poll on Twitter asking the fans who they would like to see him fight next. Compubox Punch stats showed that Joshua landed 90 of 256 punches thrown (35%), with 53 of them landed being jabs. Povetkin landed 47 of his 181 thrown (26%). Povekin connected with 43 power shots compared to the 37 Joshua landed.[158] There was also a huge size advantage in favour of Joshua, who weighed 246 pounds to Povetkin's 222 pounds.[159][160] It was reported that Joshua would earn around £20 million and Povetkin would earn around £6 million for the fight.[161]

In November 2018, according to his promoter Andrei Ryanbinsky, Povetkin would retire after two more fights.[162]

2019: Later career
By the end of December 2018, Povetkin recovered from elbow operations following his loss to Joshua and stated he would start a training camp in January 2019, hoping for a fight in April.[163] Povetkin expected his return to the ring would take place in either the UK or USA. A few names had been reported such as Dillian Whyte and Oleksandr Usyk.[164] On 4 March, it was reported that Usyk would fight either Povetkin or Carlos Takam on 18 May 2019 in Chicago, Illinois.[165] Two days later it was reported, whilst a potential Usyk-Povetkin fight could take place in 2019, both boxers would take interim bout first.[166]

Povetkin vs. Fury
Povetkin scored a twelve round unanimous decision against Hughie Fury on 31 August 2019 at the 02 Arena in London on the Vasyl Lomachenko v Luke Campbell undercard. All of the officials had the bout exactly the same – 117-111 for Povetkin, who turned 40 two days later.[167]

Personal life
Povetkin has a daughter named Arina with his ex-wife, Irina. In July 2013, Alexander married Yevgenia Merkulova in the Czech Republic.[168] He also has a brother, Vladimir Povetkin, who fights as a professional light heavyweight. Both fighters were trained by Valery Belov. Povetkin has declared himself a Rodnovery, he wears a Perun Axe necklace and has the Star of Rus tattooed on his inner left biceps

Avanti West Coast

Avanti West Coast is a train operating company in the United Kingdom owned by FirstGroup (70%) and Trenitalia (30%) that commenced operating the West Coast Partnership franchise on 8 December 2019. It replaced Virgin Trains that had been on the line since 1997.
History
In November 2016, the Department for Transport (DfT) announced that the InterCity West Coast franchise would be superseded by the West Coast Partnership (WCP), which would include operating High Speed 2 (HS2) services from 2026.[1]

The DfT required that bidders have experience in high speed trains and infrastructure, hence all partnered with an existing high speed operator.[2][3] In June 2017, the DfT announced three consortiums had been shortlisted to bid for the franchise:[4][5]

FirstGroup (70%) / Trenitalia (30%)
MTR Corporation (75%) / Guangshen Railway Company (25%)
Stagecoach (50%) / SNCF (30%) / Virgin Group (20%)
In December 2018 Renfe Operadora joined the MTR led bid.[6] In April 2019, the Stagecoach led bid was disqualified after it proposed significant changes to the commercial terms.[7]

In August 2019 the DfT awarded the franchise to the First Trenitalia consortium with Avanti West Coast to commence operations on 8 December 2019.[8][9] Some uncertainty remains as the Competition and Markets Authority launched a merger inquiry into the award of the franchise following a referral from the European Commission.[10][11]

Services
Avanti West Coast initially operated the same services as Virgin Trains on the West Coast Main Line. When High Speed 2 opens, it will also operate these services.

Over the course of the franchise several timetable changes are expected to be made
Extensions
The above table shows the regular off-peak service pattern; however, some services are extended beyond their usual destination. Extensions include:

a daily service will be introduced between London Euston and Walsall from December 2020, with an additional northbound service from 2022
an additional service will be introduced to Shrewsbury from December 2022
a direct service will be introduced between London Euston and Llandudno during the summer months from May 2021
Subject to approval by the Office of Rail and Road, an additional hourly service will be introduced between London Euston and Liverpool Lime Street with a stop at Liverpool South Parkway from December 2022
additional calls will be made at Motherwell from December 2020
additional direct journeys at Milton Keynes Central to and from London Euston from December 2022
extension of the daily service from London Euston to Wrexham General to Gobowen from December 2022
earlier first trains and later last trains from London Euston to Llandudno Junction on weekends from December 2022
earlier first trains and later last trains from London Euston to Chester on weekends by December 2022
Later last trains from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly on weekdays by December 2020
Rolling stock
Avanti West Coast commenced operations with the existing Super Voyager and Pendolino fleets. Both the Super Voyagers and the Pendolinos will be refurbishe

Chris Eubank Jr

Christopher Livingstone Eubank Jr. (born 18 September 1989) is a British professional boxer. He has held the IBO super-middleweight title since February 2019 and previously from 2017 to 2018, and the WBA interim and British middleweight titles between 2015 and 2016.

As of March 2019, Eubank is ranked as the world's second best active super-middleweight by BoxRec,[2] third by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board,[3] and seventh by The Ring magazine.[4] He is the son of former two-weight world boxing champion Chris Eubank.
Early life and education
Eubank was born in Hove, East Sussex, the son of Chris Eubank and Karron Suzanne Stephen Martin
He was a pupil at Brighton College, Shoreham College for one year, and Spring Valley High School in Las Vegas for two years.[6] Eubank featured alongside his father in the reality TV series At Home with the Eubanks.[7]

At the age of 16, Eubank and his brother Sebastian moved to the United States to live with a guardian named Irene Hutton. It was explained by their mother Karron as "mere paperwork" and done to enable them to gain dual citizenship without the need to marry, and to enhance their prospects of sporting careers.
Amateur career
Eubank began his amateur career in 2007. With the winning of his sixth amateur fight, he became the Amateur Golden Gloves Champion for the State of Nevada in his weight division of 165 lbs. With his eighth amateur fight he became the Amateur Golden Glove Champion for the Western States of the United States in his weight division. Eubank was 1–1 in the 2008 National Golden Gloves.[9] He ended his amateur career with a record of 24-2.

Professional career
Early career
Eubank turned professional in 2011 and signed with promoter Mick Hennessy.[10] He is mentored by his father, and trainer Ronnie Davies who also guided his father. Over the next three years, Eubank amassed a record of 18-0 with 13 knockouts to his name.

Middleweight
On 19 February 2014, Eubank signed a deal to appear on BoxNation, with his first fight being at the York Hall in London on 22 February.[11] Eubank stopped Alistair Warren (0-4-2), after Warren retired on his stool before round 4.[12] Eubank next fought at the Copper Box Arena in London on 12 April against Hungarian boxer Sandor Micsko.[13] Eubank landed a big uppercut in round 2, which dropped Micsko. The referee waved the fight off. In the post-fight, Eubank said, "I'm the next generation. I worked on the uppercut in the gym and I connected beautifully tonight. When I connect with these guys I'm taking them out, no one can stand up to my power and I'll only get better and stronger. I'm ready for a title fight now."[14] On 10 May, at the Olympia in Liverpool, Eubank dropped Polish boxer Robert Swierzbinkski (13-2, 3 KOs) seven times, eventually stopping him in round 7.[15] Eubank was then added to a 7 June card, two days prior to it taking place at Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle. It was said that a win would move Eubank closer to a potential grudge match with Billy Joe Saunders, who was challenging for the vacant European title in July.[16] Czech boxer Štěpán Horváth (12-3, 4 KOs) was his opponent. Eubank dropped Horváth four times, stopping him in round 6. This was Eubank's eighth straight stoppage win.[17]

On the Saunders vs. Blandamura undercard on 26 July at the Phones 4u Arena in Manchester, Eubank stopped Croatian journeyman Ivan Jukic (19-2, 12 KOs) after just 2 minutes and 40 seconds of the opening round.[18]

Eubank vs. Saunders
On 15 September 2014, Frank Warren announced that Eubank would challenge fellow unbeaten British rival Billy Joe Saunders for his British, Commonwealth and European titles on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs. Dereck Chisora II on 9 November at the ExCeL arena.[19] The fight was not officially signed as Warren was waiting for Eubank to sign the contract. Warren gave Eubank until 5pm on 25 September.[20] On 3 October the fight was confirmed, but would take place on 29 November instead and would also be a WBO final eliminator.[21][22]

Eubank fought at the Echo Arena on 25 October in a scheduled 8 round fight.[23] Eubank knocked out German boxer Omar Siala in round 2 after a right uppercut.[24]

Eubank lost his unbeaten record when he lost a split decision to Saunders. The bout went the distance, with the experienced Saunders controlling the first six rounds with his footwork, elusive style and technical boxing ability, as Eubank was mostly inactive, with many speculating to him being over cautious due to nervousness and 'stage fright' as it was his first major title bout of his professional career. Regardless, from round seven onward Eubank took control with a much higher punch output, this resulted in the two young boxers brawling and trading hard shots for the rest of the fight. In the twelfth round, Eubank came out gunning for the knockout but was unable to get it. The early inactivity turned out to be the deciding factor as Saunders was victorious, a 115-114, 115-113 and 113-116 winner.[25][26]

Eubank vs. Chudinov
On 30 December 2014, Frank Warren announced that Eubank would fight undefeated Russian boxer and WBA interim middleweight champion Dmitry Chudinov (14-0-2, 9 KOs) 28 February 2015 at The O2 Arena in London on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs. Christian Hammer.[27][28] Eubank scored a 12th-round TKO win over Chudinov and Eubank's efforts earned him the WBA interim middleweight title. At the time of stoppage, Eubank was ahead on all three judges scorecards 106-103, 108-101, 107-102. In round 2, an accidental clash of heads caused a cut above Chudinov's left eye. Eubank spent the rest of the fight landing power shot combinations and breaking Chudinov down. After the win, Eubank sought a rematch with Saunders, "This result is redemption and I'm back. And I want that rematch, Billy Joe Saunders. I'm coming for you." Ultimately however, despite given multiple chances Eubank refused to sign the fight which would have earned him close to £1million [29][30][31][32]

On 1 April 2015, it was announced that Eubank would finally meet rival Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan in May at the Wembley Arena in London. The fight however did not take place.[33]

After a 2015 that was mostly inactive, Eubank signed to promoter Eddie Hearn under the Matchroom Sport banner.[34] Hearn is the son of Eubank Sr.'s former promoter Barry Hearn. It was also announced that veteran trainer Adam Booth has been added to the team to co-train Eubank[35][deprecated source]

His first fight following his signing with Matchroom was a bout against American Tony Jeter, making his debut on Sky Sports on 24 October.[36] After knocking Jeter down in the first round, Eubank was able to knock him down twice in the second round before landing a flurry of combinations to Jeter, forcing the referee to stop the fight. Following the bout, Eubank was stripped of the interim WBA middleweight title due to his inactivity since winning it.[37] Eubank then faced Gary "Spike" O'Sullivan in an eliminator to challenge the de jure WBA middleweight champion, Daniel Jacobs.[38]

Eubank vs. O'Sullivan
Talks resurfaced about a potential fight with Irish boxer Gary O'Sullivan to take on 12 December 2015 at the O2 Arena in London on the undercard of Joshua-Whyte.[39] The fight was well anticipated, as the pair had a history of feuds in the past, with O'Sullivan targeting Eubank on social media. The fight throughout had the pace set by Eubank Jr, however O'Sullivan showed great resilience to Eubank's continuous hard shots, particularly uppercuts. At the end of the 7th round, O'Sullivan's corner retired their fighter, who had sustained a perforated eardrum.[40][41]

Immediately after Eubank defeated O'Sullivan, Hennessey Sports announced that they had won the purse bids and the rights to stage Eubank vs. Nick Blackwell for Blackwell's British middleweight title.[42]

Eubank vs. Blackwell
In February 2016, Hennessy Sports announced the fight between Eubank and Blackwell (19-3-1, 8 KOs) would take place on 26 March at the Wembley’s SSE Arena in London. The fight was shown live on Channel 5.[43] Eubank dominated the fight to the point that his trainer, father Chris Eubank Sr., began imploring the referee to stop the fight. Following the eighth round, the elder Eubank instructed Eubank to stop hitting Blackwell in the head.[44] The referee finally called a stop to the fight at 2:21 in the 10th round, and awarded Eubank the win, and the title, by TKO.[45][46] Blackwell was taken to hospital with bleeding on the brain, and was placed in a medically-induced coma for treatment.[47][deprecated source] The fight averaged 1.5 million viewers on Channel 5.[48]

Eubank vs. Doran
After re-signing with Matchroom Sport, it was announced on Sky Sports on 18 May 2016 that Eubank will fight on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's IBF heavyweight title fight with Dominic Breazeale at The O2 on 25 June. Tom Doran was announced as Eubank Jr's opponent on 19 May. Eubank had continued to climb up the ladder since joining Matchroom, having achieved a ranking of number two by the WBA and number three by the WBC.[49] Eubank won via 4th-round TKO to retain the British Middleweight title. Doran was down once in the 3rd round and three times in the 4th as the referee waved off the fight. Eubank called out Gennady Golovkin in the post fight interview.[50][51]

It was announced on 12 August, Eubank would make a mandatory defence of his British middleweight title against fellow British and undefeated Commonwealth and WBO Inter-Continental middleweight champion Tommy Langford after promoter Frank Warren won a purse bid to stage the fight.[52] Eubank, however, relinquished the title in September after suffering an injury in sparring.[53]

Throughout 2016, Eubank made it clear that he wanted to challenge undefeated unified middleweight champion Gennady Golvokin.[54] A potential fight which could see Eubank earn up to £6 million, was only being held up by Sky, who would broadcast the fight on PPV. Eubank Sr. wanted his son to earn a bigger share, due to the risk of fighting a big puncher.[55][56] By July, Golovkin had signed his end of the deal, only waiting on Eubank.[57] On 8 July, Eddie Hearn offered the deal to then-IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook, who took the deal to fight Golovkin on 10 September.[58] Eubank immediately hit out at critics stating he had never been presented with the fight contract.[59] Boxers including Tommy Langford, Martin Murray, Curtis Stevens began calling out Eubank.[60][61]

Super-middleweight
Eubank vs. Quinlan
On 13 December 2016, Eubank announced via his Facebook page that he would be making his debut in the super-middleweight division on ITV Box Office. The last time ITV showed live boxing was in July 2015, when Carl Frampton defended his IBF super-bantamweight title against Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. In the same post, stated he would be fighting 27 year old Australian boxer Renold Quinlan (11-1, 7 KOs) for his IBO super-middleweight title. Quinlan won the then-vacant IBO title defeating former world champion Daniel Geale in October via knockout in round two. The date of the fight was confirmed to be 4 February 2017 with the venue being at the Lee Valley VeloPark, Olympic Park, in London [62][63][64][65]

Following the announcement of the fight, jnr hit back at fans on social media who claimed the IBO belt isn't a 'real world title', "That title has been held by some of the greatest champions in recent boxing history and it’s currently held by Gennady Golovkin, at middleweight. You can’t tell me anything, it’s a legitimate world title." He also stated his move to super-middleweight was not permanent. He saw an opportunity to fight for a world title and took it. If he can win the world title, then he will negotiate with other champions.[66][67][68]

Despite having not previously fought at super-middleweight, the December WBC ranking update had Eubank at number seven, previously being number two at middleweight.[69] On 6 January 2017, Quinlan threatened to walk away from the fight. The reason being there was little to no promotion, with the fight being only weeks away. he stated the build up has not been enough to promote the biggest fight of his career, "It’s only a few weeks away and I've got the feeling that it’s going to be delayed. There’s been no media around it and it’s not getting the exposure it should be. I've been training well but I’m not 100 per cent focused now. I have a feeling it's going to get pulled."[70][71]

On fight night, Eubank stopped Quinlan in round 10 in a fairly one-sided fight to win the IBO super-middleweight title. The fight was stopped by referee Howard John Foster, 2 minutes and 7 seconds of round 10 after seeing Quinlan backed up against the ropes being hit with continuous head shots.[72] After a steady start, Eubank started taking control in the fifth round when he started using his speed advantage over Quinlan. After the fight was stopped, Eubank stood on the ropes in the corner in his trademark stance. In the post-fight interview, he gave credit to Quinlan, describing him as a tough fighter, "It was like hitting concrete. Big respect to Renold Quinlan. He flew halfway around the world to defend his title against one of the best in the world. He didn't have to do that." Eubank claimed that he was comfortable making 160 and 168 pounds and wanted to fight Golovkin, Saunders or DeGale next.[73][74]

Eubank vs. Abraham
Reports suggested on 1 June 2017 that Eubank would make his ring return in July 2017 defending his IBO super middleweight title against former multiple weight world champion Arthur Abraham (46-5, 30 KOs) in London. It is believed that Eubank was offered in the region of £3 million.[75] The two potential dates discussed were 15 and 22 July. At the time the fight was being discussed, Abraham was the mandatory challenger to the WBO title, held by Gilberto Ramirez, who defeated Abraham in April 2015.[76] It would be regarded as Eubanks' biggest fight since his loss to Saunders in 2014. On 5 June, it was confirmed that the fight would take place at the Wembley Arena on 15 July and televised on ITV Box Office.[77] The official press announcement was scheduled to take place on 7 June.[78] At the weigh in, Abraham weighed 12st 1lb 5oz, which was 1lb 13oz over the limit. He was given two hours to lose the extra weight. Eubank weighed inside the limit at 11st 13lb 3oz. It was said that if Abraham couldn't make weight a second time, the fight would still take place in a non-title fight. Abraham made weight on the third attempt.[79]

Eubank won via a unanimous decision with the scorecards 120-108, 120-108 and 118-110. Abraham had little to offer, mostly in defence mode as Eubank out landed and outpointed him. The last time Eubank went the 12 round distance was his split decision loss to Saunders in November 2014, and the last time he won a fight on points was on his 8th professional fight in December 2012. Eubank landed staggering uppercuts throughout the fight, many single and some in combinations, with Abraham only managing to connect a few shots clean, but left little to no damage.[80]

Eubank spoke of Abraham's performance, "He's definitely the most durable opponent I've faced. I hit him with every shot in the book. He didn't win a round and I'm happy with the performance." With the win, Eubank advanced into the World Boxing Super Series, where he could potentially meet WBA 'super' champion George Groves in the semi-finals.[81][82]

World Boxing Super Series
Main article: 2017–18 World Boxing Super Series – super middleweight division
On 7 July 2017, the World Boxing Super Series announced the winner of Abraham and Eubank would be taking part in the super-middleweight knockout tournament.[83]

Eubank vs. Yildirim
At the Draft Gala in Monte Carlo on 8 July, Chris Eubank Sr., who represented both Abraham and Eubank picked undefeated Turkish contender Avni Yildirim (16-0, 10 KOs).[84] The fight was confirmed following Eubank's lop-sided win over Abraham. Promoter Kalle Sauerland said official confirmation of a venue and date would be announced in the coming weeks.[80] On 8 August, it was announced that the fight would take place on 7 October at the Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle in Stuttgart, Germany, marking it the second time Eubank would be fighting outside the UK since turning professional.[85] Eubank used his hand speed and power shots to stop Yildirim in round 3 of their fight to confirm his place in the semi finals of the tournament. Yildirim was forced to take a knee in the opening round when Eubank landed a big uppercut. Yildirim wasn't hard to hit as he lent forward whilst attacking. The fight came to an end after a flurry of shots, which were unanswered and the final punch was a left to the head which again dropped Yildirim. Referee Leszek Jankowiak stopped the fight without counting, whilst Yildirim attempted to get up. Some of the media and pundits felt the stoppage was premature and Yildirim was recovering, however some felt as though he had taken too many blows to the head. At ringside after the fight, Eubank Jr told ITV, "I am here to dominate this tournament. I am sending a message out there that I am coming." Eubank landed 59 of 201 punches thrown (29%), whilst Yildirim landed 23 of 91 thrown (25%).[86][87] Before the fight, a big brawl broke out in the crowd.[88][89]

Eubank vs. Groves
Due to winning their respective bouts in October 2017, Eubank and George Groves (27-3, 20 KOs) were due to meet in the semi final of the tournament. At first, promoter Kalle Sauerland stated he would try to book the fight for a stadium in either London or Manchester. In November 2017, ITV reported the fight was set to take place on 17 February 2018 at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, Europe’s largest purpose-built indoor arena. The winner of the fight would earn his place in the final of the tournament as well as walk out with the WBA (Super) and IBO super-middleweight titles.[90][91][92] Tickets for the fight sold out in seven minutes.[93] Groves weighed 167 pounds, a full pound under the weight limit and Eubank came in at 167.5 pounds.[94]

Groves secured his place in the final of the tournament after defeating Eubank over 12 rounds. The judges scored the fight 117-112, 116-112 and 115-113 for Groves. Groves, the bigger man in the ring, used his jab to control the fight after a cagey round and mostly fought on the back foot, occasionally landing the big shot. An accidental clash of heads caused Eubank to receive a cut on the side of his right eye in round 3. The big cut was dealt with by his corner after the round, but as the fight went on to the later rounds, blood was seen flowing expeditiously. The fight was riddled with a lot of clinches and unclean punches from both boxers. Groves retained his WBA title but did not claim Eubank's IBO title as he did not pay their sanctioning fees. Groves also suffered a dislocated shoulder in round 12. It was said that Groves weighed around 184 pounds on fight night.[95]

After the fight, Groves said, "It was about who wanted it most, I think, and I obviously wanted it most. The jab was landing correctly all night. When he had success, it was because I did something wrong. He was strong, he was aggressive, but that obviously wasn’t enough tonight." Eubank replied, "I thought it was close. I thought I did enough in the later rounds to win the fight, but it was a close fight. And all credit to George. You know, this is all part of boxing. You win some and you lose some. Hopefully we can get a rematch. It was enough of a good fight to have another one."[96][97] Punch stats showed that Groves landed 117 of 398 punches thrown (29%) and Eubank landed 92 of his 421 thrown (22%). Many pundits and former boxers stated Eubank should move forward and hire a trainer.[98][99][100][101] Both boxers earned a base purse of £1.5 million, which could increase due to sponsorship and PPV sales.[102] Four days after the fight it was revealed Groves didn't fight for the IBO belt after failing to agree on sanctioning fees with the IBO's president Ed Levine.[103]

Reserve fight
On 9 May, Kalle Sauerland explained that Groves could potentially be replaced by Eubank Jr. in the final of the tournament against Smith, however there would be confirmation on the final in the next 10 days. Sauerland stated, "We're working at the moment on all the solutions and scenarios, where George [Groves] is fit and where he isn't. We’re hopeful [Groves will be fit], so we’ll see. You can’t start the tournament and then have the final lingering into the next tournament. I’m sorry, that’s not going to happen. We can push a month, but we can’t push it back by three or four months. We have a substitute system. We said that from day one, and that’s the situation. We want Groves in the final, but if that’s not possible and he doesn't declare himself fit in the next 10 days, we have to find a solution."[104][105]

On 17 September, Sauerland announced that Eubank would fight Irish boxer JJ McDonagh (16-4, 8 KOs) on the George Groves vs Callum Smith undercard on 28 September at The Indoor Sports Hall at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.[106][107] Eubank won the fight via corner retirement. McDonagh chose to stay on his stool after round 3, complaining of a shoulder injury. The crowd booed the stoppage after an entertaining round 3. McDonagh was knocked down in the opening round from a left hand to the head. In round 3, Eubank began to land a lot of shots on McDonagh. McDonagh was willing to stand and trade with Eubank. The high work rate from Eubank eventually backed McDonagh off. Eubank was not convinced McDonagh injured his shoulder and only took the fight on short notice for a payday. A fight nearly broke out when McDonagh heard Eubank's comments.[108][109][110]

Eubank vs. DeGale
On 3 January 2019, an official press conference took place to announce the James DeGale vs. Chris Eubank Jr. grudge match, which would take place on 23 February at The O2 Arena in London, exclusively on ITV Box Office, as part of ITV's new deal with Haymon Sports’ Premier Boxing Champions. The rivalry between DeGale (25-2-1, 15 KOs) and Eubank began a few years ago, after a series of run-ins, from sparring one another in the gym to trading verbal insults across social media. Serious talks around the fight first began in July 2018 after DeGale vacated his IBF super-middleweight title.[111] The last time DeGale fought a fellow British boxer, was the majority decision loss to George Groves in May 2011.[112][113] The fight was originally slated to take place in December 2018, however a deal had yet to be agreed. The possibility of the fight was first announced in November 2018 with PBC's plans to 'Invade UK Market', it was then stated a pay-per-view bout would be imminent.[114][115] Eubank revealed he had been training in Las Vegas at the Mayweather Boxing Club alongside former boxer Nate Vasquez, who trains boxers and MMA fighters. Eubank said, "Instead of me going through the motions and trying to beat guys using heart and determination. Now we have strategy involved. This is going to take me to the next level."[116] International Boxing Organization president Ed Levine confirmed their super-middleweight title would be at stake.[117]

On 23 February, Chris Eubank Jr. defeated James DeGale by Unanimous Decision. The scorecards read 114-112, 115-112 and 117-109 for Eubank Jr. DeGale suffered knocked downs in round 2 and round 10 after Eubank Jr. barraged him with series of blows.

كاميل كلوديل

كاميل كلوديل ‏ (8 ديسمبر 1864 – 19 أكتوبر 1943) فنانة ونحاتة فرنسية، وهي شقيقة الشاعر والكاتب والدبلوماسي بول كلوديل، وكانت تجمعها علاقة مضطربة مع النحات المشهور أوجست رودان والذي يكبرها بأربعة وعشرين عاماً، والتي انتهت بانفصالهما، مما تسبب ذلك في احتجازها في مصح نفسي عام 1913 إبان إصابتها بنوبات صرعية وإنفصام في الشخصية.