Boxing promoter Frank Warren has slammed Gary Lineker, asking the former England footballer “What are you talking about” in a fiery response to the BBC host’s stance on migration in the UK.

Last year, Lineker was controversially relieved of his Match of the Day hosting duties when he compared the Conservative government’s migration plan to that of Nazi Germany.

The government tried to stop tens of thousands of migrants from crossing the English Channel each year with a fresh law that barred asylum from people who reached the UK through unauthorized means and deported them “to their home country or a secure third country”.

Lineker was suspended by the Beeb after he described the plan on X (formerly known as Twitter) as “extremely cruel” and called the government’s language “similar to that used in Germany in the 1930s.”

And now Warren, a proud Londoner, believes Lineker was wrong to speak out about the policy, insisting that “the floodgates have opened”.

“And it is changing the structure of our society, there is no doubt about it,” he said Telegraph. “I don’t think you should be ashamed of being British. But if you’re a white guy over 50, you start being treated like an outsider, like you don’t matter. “

Asked if he saw himself as an outsider, the 72-year-old replied: “Not really. I’m lucky. I run a company where people want free tickets. But I see the problem elsewhere and I don’t think it’s right. I disagreed with Gary Lineker, who last year tweeted about the Conservatives’ asylum policy, saying it was similar to Germany’s in the 1930s.

“Seriously, what the hell are you talking about? Nazi Germany? We let people in, not take away their property. We are a hospitable country. But we should welcome legal immigrants and force them to pass through. This illegal dimension changes the dynamics around schools, housing and hospitals. This is completely unacceptable.”

Warren was one of the chiefs who signed off on the Saudi anthem played before Anthony Joshua’s defeat by Daniel Dubois at Wembley. He defended the decision as a matter of record, given that the event was paid for by Riyad’s season, as Eddie Hearn stood by the decision.

“Of course I want to be there and celebrate the British national anthem,” Warren added. “When I was growing up, Britain didn’t have a world heavyweight champion. Now we dominate this league. However, I believe that we have lost something as a nation.

“Iranians say America and other Western countries are enemies – they don’t even mention us. We’re not there. Then Ben Wallace, former Secretary of Defense, says we don’t have the shooting equipment to shoot down the rockets falling on Israel. We are a diminutive island, but we have resisted oppression for centuries and still maintain our identity. So where has our position gone?”

Warren has been a boxing promoter for more than 40 years, but he downplayed the challenges of being a public figure in an ever-changing social landscape.

“No, not me,” he said. “I couldn’t give a damn. And people who constantly talk about freedom of speech should support each other more. If you appear on TV or radio, don’t be cautious just because you’re afraid of losing your job.

“It’s an awakening. I guess I’m an aged guy now. Look at it another way. Do I want my 10-year-old granddaughter going to Wembley and having to employ the same bathrooms as men going out for a beer? No, no.

Jai Opetaia has beaten everything put before him in his 25 professional boxing bouts, but he faced a knockout punch in his latest appearance on Sky Sports. The 29-year-old, who currently holds the Ring Magazine and lbF ineal cruiserweight titles, is preparing to face Jack Massey in his latest title defense.

The two will compete on October 13 in Saudi Arabia during the main event of the Dimitri Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev fight.

Opetai’s defense against the European and Commonwealth cruiserweight champion will be his third straight fight in the Middle East and is considered the toughest test of his career to date.

The Australian appears to be taking an aggressive approach to this, if his latest TV interview is anything to go by. Ahead of his first fight since defeating Mairis Briedis in May, he didn’t hold back when talking about his career on Sky this week.

“I used to think that this attitude: when I win the world title, it will solve all my problems,” he said. “But unfortunately I had a few run-ins with some filthy promoters and things didn’t always go according to plan. “I won the world title and the next day I woke up the same. You can’t eat fucking gold belts.”

This comment was deemed inappropriate for live broadcast and was immediately interrupted by the presenter. “The broadcasting rules are a bit different here, you can’t swear,” he said. “Sorry”.

Not that the Sydney star was too concerned. After accepting his low answer, he continued: “It means something to me, it lifts my spirits. We have suffered a lot of pain and sacrifice for these things.

“The belts are just bonuses now, I used to strive for them, but I only think about winning these fights. We want to be the undisputed cruiserweight champion. We want to collect belts and then we want to move up and get more belts in bridgeweight or heavyweight.”

Opetaia was again warned on Sky that the “broadcasting rules are slightly different”, but not before he stressed his desire to destroy his excellent professional achievements. His clash with Massey will be part of a star-studded card in Riyad that will also feature Chris Eubank Jr vs. Kamil Szeremeta and Fabio Wardley vs. Frazer Clarke.

“A three-division world champion sounds good. I am the best cruiser in the world,” he added. “It’s effortless to say that. I just have to keep proving it. I have to prove it again on December 12, prove it in my next fight and continue to collect these belts.”

Opetaia, who represented Australia at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2014 Commonwealth Games, was named the best vigorous cruiserweight in the world by The Ring magazine. However, he is not the only boxer to have breached Sky’s screen policy – the likes of David Haye and Tyson Fury have previously been warned for their language while appearing on air.

Lamont Roach says there is no comparison between him and Frank Martin as it looks like he will be far superior to his compatriot, dethroning Gervonta Davis.

Davis is scheduled to defend his WBA lightweight world title against Roach in Houston on December 14 on PBC’s Prime pay-per-view, although the fight has not yet been officially announced.

Roach will move up to 135 pounds from 130 pounds, where he holds the WBA crown, and says he poses a much tougher challenge than Martin, whom “Tank” defeated in eight rounds in June.

“With all due respect, I’m not Frank Martin,” the 29-year-old said Talking about cigars.

“Frank Martin started boxing at the age of 15?

“He didn’t have the experience to play with someone as skilled and experienced as he was.

“I have the same skill level as Tank.

“I had the same experience as Tank.

“I’ve got the reflexes, I’ve got the skills, I’m damn sure I’ve got the IQ.”

“The Reaper” has faced Davis twice in amateur competition and lost by decision both times.

Washington has won six wins since taking a unanimous decision to fight Jamel Herring for the WBC super featherweight world title in 2019, securing the WBA crown via split decision Hector Luis Garcia in November 2023, whom ‘Tank’ knocked out 10 months earlier.

Davis, who hails from neighboring Baltimore, has won 28 of his 30 professional fights by knockout, but Roach says he has the strength to counter the 29-year-old’s power.

“What makes people think I’m going to end up like these guys who had no experience and no skills?” he added.

“I think I have a nice chin.

“I was hit on the chin a few times.

“Nobody ever dropped me.

“No one has ever seen me hurt in any fight.

“The power may be slightly different.”