Joe Frazier Passes Away

It is sad to report that Joe Frazier has lost his fight with cancer and has passed away at 67, Frazier had been omitted to a hospice over the weekend for treatment on liver cancer but the disease was to far advanced to find successful treatment for the former heavyweight champion.

Lennox Lewis has been leading the tributes the Frazier, Lewis added: "I am extremely saddened at the news of the passing of former World Heavyweight Champion Smokin’ Joe Frazier.  He made history in the greatest era ever of heavyweight boxing and his contributions to the sport are profound and immeasurable.

"My deepest sympathies go out to the Frazier family during this time of loss and grief and I would like them to know that they are in my prayers.  He will be missed but never forgotten.  May he rest in peace."

Floyd Mayweather has also offered to cover the funeral costs.

Joe Frazier was well respected within the world of sport, especially in Boxing where he always be regarded as one of the greatest.


Frazier only found out about the diagnosis last month and his family released the following statement; "We The Family of the 1964 Olympic Boxing Heavyweight Gold Medalist, Former Heavyweight Boxing Champion and International Boxing Hall of Fame Member Smokin' Joe Frazier, regrets to inform you of his passing.

He transitioned from this life as "One of God's Men," on the eve of November 7, 2011 at his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We thank you for your prayers for our Father and vast outpouring of love and support.

Respectfully, we request time to grieve privately as a family. Our father's home going celebration will be announced as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding."

Frazier was reported to have lost 50 pounds and friends like Rev. Jesse Jackson and fellow heavyweight king Larry Holmes requested visits, but Frazier decided against it.

"Joe doesn't want to see anybody, the way he is now," his manager Les Wolff explained earlier this week. "I think you can understand why. He's a proud man."

Joe Frazier was one of the greatest to grace the sport, Frazier fought professionally from 1965 to 1981, capturing the WBA and WBC heavyweight titles. He defeated Muhammad Ali in 1971, which was the high point of Frazier’s career. Before turning pro, Frazier won a gold medal in the 1964 Olympics.

Ali vs Frazier was the biggest rivalry in any sport, Smokin Joe Frazier fought in the golden era of Boxing during the 70’s in which he became world champion.

RIP Smokin Joe Frazier - A True Great!

Joe Frazier - Smokin' Joe

Joe Frazier: "Smokin Joe" (January 12, 1944 - November 7, 2011) 56 wins, 37 KO’s, 5 losses.

Joe Frazier was born in Laurel Bay, South Carolina, on January 12, 1944. “Smoking Joe” Frazier never set out to set the boxing world alight.

He began going to the gym to get himself into shape. However, one thing led to another, and he began competing. He was the youngest of thirteen children. He started his boxing career at age nine, when he rigged up a homemade punching bag of moss and leaves.

Twelve years later, after having married at sixteen, he moved to Philadelphia, where he won the Golden Gloves in 1962, 1963 and 1964. He also won American's only gold medal in the Boxing at the Tokyo Olympics.

With a group of businessmen from Philadelphia, Cloverlay, Inc, as his sponsors, Frazier launched his professional career on August 16, 1965, with a one-round knockout over Woody Goss.

He oiled up ten straight knockouts before meeting Oscar Bonavena on September 21, 1966.

Bonavena floored Frazier twice in the second round, but Frazier rallied to win a ten-round decision.


Above is footage of Frazier's fight against Eddie Machen in November 1966. After four more victories, three of which were knockouts, Frazier was pitted against Chuvalo on July 19, 1967.

In the fourth round, the tough Canadian was knocked out for the first time in his career.

When Frazier fought Buster Mathis on March 4, 1968, he was determined to clear any hint of tarnish from his Olympic medal. Before Frazier went to Tokyo he had won thirty-eight of forty right, His two losses had been to Mathis in the Olympics trials.


When Mathis had a broken knuckle, Frazier had the upper hand. "Smokin Joe" flattened Mathis with a left with a left hook in 2:33 of the eleventh round.

Frazier became undisputed world champion on February 16, 1970, when the gong rang for the opening of the fifth round and the W.B.A's champion, Jimmy Ellis, couldn't come out. After the first round, in which Ellis held a margin, Frazier dominated the match with a steady and relentless style of strong, heavy pressure.

As the end if the fourth round approached, Frazier bombarded Ellis's body and head until the Kentuckian sank to that mat for a count of nine, during which the bell rang. Raising himself at the nine.

Ellis managed to get to this corner, when the fifth round gong rang sounded, manager Angelo Dundee motioned to referee Tony Perez that Ellis could not continue.


The first encounter with Ali took place on March 8, 1971, at Madison Square Garden before 20,445 fans plus 1.3 million watching closed-circuit theatre TV. Ali who described his own fighting style as "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee" was slowed down by Frazier's constant pounding.


Ali's strategy was to let Frazier become arm weary while flicking tiring jabs at his opponent, but despite a 6 1/2 inch disadvantage in reach, Frazier managed to get in under Ali's jab to land countless left hooks to the Ali's body.

Frazier suffered a swollen jaw and lumps around both eyes, while Ali merely sported a hematoma on the right side of his jaw.

Frazier won unanimously with referee Arthur Mercante giving him eight rounds, six to Ali and Judge Bill Recht awarded eleven to Frazier and four to Ali.

The only knock down occurred in the fifteenth round, when Ali was dropped for the third time in his career but bounced back after the mandatory eight count.

Before facing George Foreman, Frazier fought Terry Daniels in New Orleans on January 15, 1972, then Ron Stander, in Omaha, on May 25, 1972. The odds against his two opponents were 15 to 1 and 20 to 1 respectively. Danis lasted four rounds, Strander, five.


On January 22, 1973, at Kingston, Jamaica, Frazier, a 3-1 favourite, was floored six times by Foreman before referee Arthur Mercante stopped the action at 1:35 of the second round before 36,000 fans. Frazier pressed the attack, but was met by a challenger who moved out a step backward.

A right to the jaw by Foreman achieved the first knockdown midway into the first round. Frazier got up, exchanged a few punches, and was down again from a series of rights to the head.

Again Frazier rose quickly, but obviously dazed, and he was decked a third time as the bell ended the round. As set down by the rules, counting did not end with the bell, but was continued until Frazier struggled up at the count of three.

Frazier opened round two with a rushing attack and a left hook to the head, but was a short rally. Foreman, who weighed 217 pounds to Frazier's 214 pounds, sent the champion to the mat for the fourth time with a left-right to the jaw.

Up at the count of two, Frazier was dropped by two left hooks. Again Frazier struggled up but then went down for the last time from a series of punches.

Frazier gamely got to his feet, but referee Arthur Mercante looked at his glazed eyes and reeling figure and signalled that there was a new champion.

After the George Foreman bout, Joe Frazier went on to fight Joe Bugner in London on July 2, 1973 whom he beat in twelve rounds and then on January 28, 1974.

Frazier and Ali fought again at Madison Square Garden in front of 20,746, who paid a live gate of $1,053,688 and a theatre-TV audience that paid £25,000,000.

The closed-circuit TV audience reached 10,000,000. The gross revenue for the fight, including foreign film rights, etc, came to $25,000,000.

In their previous fight, Frazier went straight in to his opponent while Ali sidestepped and countered. Frazier scored decisively and often to the body.

Ali hit only to Joe's head, but more often and with more power than previously.

The most controversial moment of the fight occurred in the second round when referee Tony Perez stopped the fight, thinking he had heard the bell ring.
It was a crucial time.

Frazier ad Ali in a corner, but Ali spun and jabbed out of trouble and hit Frazier solidly on his puffing cheekbone.

After taking a long left hook to the chin, Ali came back to confuse and hurt Frazier with lefts and chopping rights to the head.

It was at this point the referee stepped in; stalling the only opportunity Ali had to finish his man.


The seventh was Frazier's big round. The first of several good left hooks connected thirty seconds into the round, stunning Ali.

Ali was off his toes, flatfooted, as Frazier again carried the action in the eighth. Although Ali was tired, he rallied to outpunch Frazier for the last nine minutes and was awarded a unanimous decision for the twelve rounds by referee Tony Perez and judges Tony Castellano and Jack Gordon.

1975 was, once again, a year of rematches for Frazier, but this time they involved more overseas travel. He met Jimmy Ellis, the man from whom he had originally taken the WBA title, in Melbourne, Australia, knocking him out in nine rounds.

That win made him once again the number-one challenger for the world crown, now held by Ali after an eighth-round knockout of George Foreman in the famous "Rumble in the Jungle".

Ali and Frazier met for the third and final time in Quezon City (a district within the metropolitan area of Manila), the Philippines, on October 1, 1975: the "Thrilla in Manila".

Ali took every opportunity to mock Frazier, again calling him The Gorilla, and generally trying to irritate him.

The fight for Ali’s title, which was attended by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, caused another media frenzy and was seen lives around the world.


It was far more action-filled than the previous encounter (there was no belt at stake in the second fight), and was a punishing display that ended when Eddie Futch stopped the fight before the 15th and final round with Frazier sitting on his stool.

In 1976, Frazier fought and again lost to George Foreman, this time by fifth-round knockout, and retired.

In 1981, Frazier attempted a comeback that lasted only one fight, drawing in 10 rounds with Floyd "Jumbo" Cummings in Chicago, Illinois. He then retired for good.

Joe Frazier was diagnosed with liver cancer in September 2011. Within a few weeks, the cancer metastasized. By November 2011, he was under hospice care. He died on November 7, 2011.

RIP Smokin' Joe!  We lift our hats to you!

Joe Frazier Fight Record: 32 Wins, 4 Losses, 1 Draw, 27 Knockouts

1965
1965-08-16 - Woody Goss, Philadelphia, PA, W TKO RD 1
1965-09-20 - Mike Bruce, Philadelphia, PA, W KO RD 3
1965-09-28 - Ray Staples, Philadelphia, PA, W KO RD 2
1965-11-11 - Abe Davis, Philadelphia, PA, W KO RD 1

1966
1966-01-17 - Mel Turnbow, Philadelphia, PA, W KO RD 1
1966-03-04 - Dick Wipperman, New York, NY, W TKO RD 5
1966-04-04 - Charley Polite, Philadelphia, PA, W TKO RD 2
1966-04-28 - Don (Toro) Smith, Pittsburgh, PA, W KO RD 3
1966-05-19 - Chuck (Charley) Leslie, Los Angeles, CA, W KO RD 3
1966-05-26 - Memphis Al Jones, Los Angeles, CA, W KO RD 1
1966-07-25 - Billy Daniels, Philadelphia, PA, W TKO RD 6
1966-09-21 - Oscar Bonavena, New York, NY, W RD 10
1966-11-21 - Eddie Machen, Los Angeles, CA, W TKO RD 10

1967
1967-02-21 - Doug Jones, Philadelphia, PA, W KO RD 5
1967-04-11 - Jefferson Davis, Miami Beach, FL, W KO RD 5
1967-05-04 - George Johns, Los Angeles, CA, W RD 10
1967-07-19 - George Chuvalo, New York, NY, W TKO RD 4
1967-10-17 - Tony Doyle, Philadelphia, PA, W TKO RD 2
1967-12-18 - Marion Connors, Boston, MA, W KO RD 3

1968
1968-03-04 - Buster Mathis, New York, NY, W TKO RD 11
1968-06-24 - Manuel Ramos, New York, NY, W TKO RD 2
1968-12-10 - Oscar Bonavena, Philadelphia, PA, W RD 15

1969
1969-04-22 - Dave Zyglewicz, Houston, TX, W KO RD 1
1969-06-16 - Don Warner, New York, NY, Exh
1969-06-23 - Jerry Quarry, New York, NY, W TKO RD 7

1970
1970-02-16 - Jimmy Ellis, New York, NY, W TKO RD 5
(Won WBC Heavyweight Title)
(Won WBA Heavyweight Title)
1970-11-18 - Bob Foster, Detroit, MI, W KO RD 2
(Retained WBC Heavyweight Title)
(Retained WBA Heavyweight Title)

1971
1971-03-08 - Muhammad Ali, New York, NY, W RD 15
(Retained WBC Heavyweight Title)
(Retained WBA Heavyweight Title)
1971-07-15 - Cleveland Williams, Houston, TX, Exh RD 3
1971-07-15 - James Helwig, Houston, TX, Exh RD 3

1972
1972-01-15 - Terry Daniels, New Orleans, LA, W TKO RD 4
(Retained WBC Heavyweight Title)
(Retained WBA Heavyweight Title)
1972-05-25 - Ron Stander, Omaha, NE, W TKO RD 5
(Retained WBC Heavyweight Title)
(Retained WBA Heavyweight Title)
1972-09-29 - Willie Monroe, Denver, CO, Exh RD 2
1972-09-29 - Mike Boswell, Denver, CO, Exh RD 2

1973
1973-01-22 - George Foreman, Kingston, Jamaica, L TKO RD 2
(Lost WBC Heavyweight Title)
(Lost WBA Heavyweight Title)
1973-07-02 - Joe Bugner, London, England, W RD 12

1974
1974-01-28 - Muhammad Ali, New York, NY, L RD 12
1974-06-17 - Jerry Quarry, New York, NY, W TKO RD 5

1975
1975-03-01 - Jimmy Ellis, Melbourne, Australia, W TKO RD 9
1975-10-01 - Muhammad Ali, Manila, Philippines, L TKO RD 14
(For WBC Heavyweight Title)
(For WBA Heavyweight Title)

1976
1976-06-15 - George Foreman, Uniondale, NY, L TKO RD 5
1976-12-03 - Marvis Frazier, Rochester, NY, Exh RD 2
1976-12-03 - Mike Koranicki, Rochester, NY, Exh RD 2

1981
1981-12-03 - Floyd (Jumbo) Cummings, Chicago, IL, D RD 10

Muhammad Ali Praying For Joe Frazier

Muhammad Ali has joined the legions of sporting icons in hoping that Joe Frazier can continue to fight and will rise up once again to beat the count and pull through is biggest battle of all time, news had circulated over the weekend that the 67-year-old was gravely ill and being treated in a hospice for liver cancer.

Ali, who fought Frazier three times and Ali recorded his first professional loss against Smokin Joe after going on to win the last two battles these two had.

Ali vs. Frazier fights was always be held in high esteem, The “Thrilla in Manila” went down as one of the greatest battles to take place in the world of boxing.

Ali said, “The news about Joe is hard to believe and even harder to accept. Joe is a fighter and a champion and I am praying he is fighting now.

"My family are keeping Joe and his family in our daily prayers. Joe has a lot of friends pulling for him – and I’m one of them."

Frazier was the first man to beat Muhammad Ali, knocking him down and taking a decision in the so-called Fight of the Century in 1971. He would go on to lose two more fights to Ali, including the epic Thrilla in Manila bout in 1975.

The pairs relationship had remained as fragile as it was when both were fighters; Ali always taunted Frazier, referring to Joe as a ‘Gorilla’ and ‘Uncle Tom’. It was the Uncle Tom that Frazier found it difficult to forgive him.

In recent years it had been reported that the pair had buried the hatchet and had been on better terms.

Pakistani Trio Sentenced

Former Pakistan cricketers are today starting their sentencing behind bars after being found guilty of cheating in the form of match fixing, News of the World uncovered the corruption which layed deeply within Pakistani Cricket and helped bring justice to the trio.

Pakistan’s former captain Salman Butt and fellow players Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir have all been given custodial sentences for plotting to fix parts of Pakistan's Lord's and Oval Test matches against England in 2010.

Butt was jailed for 30 months, Asif was given a 12-month term and teenager Amir was handed a six-month sentence for plotting to bowl deliberate no-balls against England.

Mr Justice Cooke said the four men had damaged the image and integrity of the sport.

The judge told the court: "The image and integrity of what was once a game but is now a business is damaged in the eyes of all, including the many youngsters who regarded you as heroes and would have given their eye teeth to play at the levels and with the skills that you had."

He added: "Now whenever people look back on a surprising event in a game or a surprising result, or whenever in the future there are surprising events or results, followers of the game who have paid good money to watch it live or watch it on television will be left to wonder whether there has been fixing and whether what they have been watching is a genuine contest between bat and ball.

"What ought to be honest sporting competition may not be such at all."

That's the price you pay for cheating and it also sends out a clear message that match fixing will not be tolerated in Cricket.

Five to Watch on Snookers Green Baize this Season

With the more prestigious snooker tournaments, such as the UK Championship and the Masters, past approaching it's time to consider who are the leading contenders for the sport's biggest prizes this season.
Every year for the last 15 years or more, every snooker pundit in the land would have had Ronnie O’Sullivan as the first name down on the list, however, the "Rocket" appears to have an aversion to winning tournaments these days and has dropped down to number 12 in the world Snooker rankings. It would be no surprise if he was to bounce back; after all, he is the most capable player on the planet on his day. However, one attribute he no longer has is reliability and to that end, it is a great opportunity for some other players to steal the spotlight O'Sullivan has dominated for so long, here are five players who can make an impact at the major tournaments over the coming months.

Mark Selby

Currently at the top of the world rankings, the "Jester from Leicester" has been in a rich vein of form in 2011, appearing in the final of both the German Masters and China Open, where he lost in very close games against Mark Williams and Judd Trump respectively. He set a new record for the most century breaks at the World Championships in May, but could only make the last eight in the tournament, going down to Ding Junhui of China. However he won his last tournament, the Shanghai Masters in September after a thrilling battle with Williams which saw him come back from a 7-9 deficit to win 10-9. If he continues in that kind of form he is sure to feature in the latter stages of more ranking events and will be top of the snooker betting heading in to every tournament.

Mark Williams 

After a few years in the wilderness, Mark Williams is well and truly back to his best and has climbed back from snooker obscurity to the number two spot in the world rankings. He is a two time World Champion and a player who has won 18 ranking tournaments since turning professional in 1992. He has also been runner up in ten more and has also won the Masters tournament twice. Like Selby his recent form has been 'top drawer', making three finals this year already, winning the German Masters, before finishing runner up in the Australian Open and the Shanghai Masters. He was involved in a thrilling battle with John Higgins in the semi final at the World Championship, but had to accept second best again to the Scot; losing a classic match, 14-17. However, a return to former glories are not too far away and his objective will be to win a third World Championship next April.

John Higgins

The "Wizard of Wishaw" for many, is still the player to beat on the circuit, particularly in the big events. Higgins won his fourth World Championship earlier this year and is also the reigning Welsh Open and UK champion, tournaments he won after being suspended by the snooker’s governing body. His World Championship win was particularly poignant as it came in the wake of his father’s death. His recent form has been reasonable with two quarter final finishes and although he is only currently ranked third in the world behind Selby and Williams, there is absolutely no doubt that when the UK Championship begins in December he will be back to his best.

Judd Trump

Big things have been expected of this young man ever since he turned professional in 2005 at the tender age of 16. Now 22, Judd, as all snooker fans know, reached the final of the World Championship in April where he played supremely well when losing to Higgins by 15-18. He showed that he has every shot in the book and is certain to make a huge impact on the world snooker stage from now on. Just prior to the World Championship, Judd had lifted his first professional ranking tournament title by taking the China Open with victory over Selby and with age firmly on his side this could be the time when he establishes himself as one of the best around.

Mark Allen

Although only raked at number 13 in the world, this left hander from Northern Ireland has an excellent temperament during the bigger tournaments. Last season for instance, the 25 year old reached the Quarter Final of the World Championship, losing to Williams, the Semi Final of theMasters, losing to  Marco Fu and the semi final of the UK Championship, where he lost to Higgins. Allen is a superb break builder and is a player hugely respected on the circuit; for him it is merely a question of when and not if he wins a tournament and that wait may not be too far away.

Written by Rod Crowley

David Haye Retires From Boxing

The British Boxing Board of Control has today confirmed that David Haye doesn’t wish to renew his licence. The former WBA Heavyweight champion has come in for alot of stick following his loss to Wladimir Klitschko last July when he lost his WBA world title by a unamimous points decision in Hamburg.

Haye, who celebrates his 31st birthday on Thursday has always said he would not fight on past the age of 30.

It was thought that Haye would make a comeback bout against Vitali or a rematch with Wladimir, who holds the WBC title.

Board secretary Robert Smith speaking on BBC Radio 5 he added that he had received an email from David Haye stating that he doesn’t want to renew his licence.

He added; "According to the email I received, he is no longer wishing to renew his licence."

When asked if he had thought a Haye-Klitschko rematch had been likely, Smith added: "It doesn't really matter what I think, it's up to David and Adam (Booth, Haye's trainer and manager). Obviously his last fight must have been bitterly disappointing for him, but if you look at his career as a whole he has been very good to the sport and we wish him well.

"There are many instances when heavyweights can go on longer than the smaller weight divisions but he has his whole life ahead of him, he has achieved a great deal and good luck to the man.

"You dedicate your life to your sport and to find something after that endeavour is very difficult for anybody."

Wales Capable of Reaching First Ever World Cup Final

Image Credit Flickr User Vapourtrails

The Rugby World Cup is now down to the last four with a final between a team from the Northern Hemisphere against the best team from the Southern Hemisphere.

Battling to represent the Six Nations are Wales and France who meet at Eden Park, Auckland on Saturday in a match that clearly could go either way but it is the Welsh who have been made narrow favourites to make their first ever World Cup final.

They played outstandingly well to defeat Ireland in the Quarter Final, particularly in the second half, such was their dynamic performance that there are many highly regarded rugby pundits suggesting that they could go all the way and win the Webb-Ellis Cup!

Wales Coach, Warren Gatland, in fact went out to New Zealand with a lot more confidence than he was letting on. His side had three excellent warm up matches and although they lost the first of those to England, they avenged that defeat with a comprehensive 19-9 victory a week later at the Millennium Stadium.

That win was followed up with a comprehensive 28-13 victory over Argentina which is why they went into their opening World Cup pool fixture against South Africa extremely confident.

In the event, they lost that match (unluckily) by a single point but they showed enough ability to suggest that they could easily reverse that result should the two teams meet again the final. Wales went on to win all three remaining pool fixtures which included a huge 66-0 win over Fiji, a win that well and truly buried the nightmares of the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

It came as no surprise therefore to see Wales outplay Ireland but now they must take on France, rejuvenated it would seem after stories of dressing room unrest in the Pool stages of the competiton.

France have beaten Wales the last three times they have met, including a 28-9 demolition back in March this year in the Six Nations. However, the French were poor against the "All Blacks" in their Pool fixture and even worse in defeat to Tonga in what remains the biggest shock of this current World Cup.

It was with some surprise therefore to see "Les Bleus" come out with such verve against England in the Quarter Final. They took the game to Martin Johnson’s men with great panache playing extremely well throughout and fully deserving the 19-12 victory.

Assuming the French players are back on side with coach Mark Lievremont, then the team should have what it takes to get the better of Wales in this match but they will have to take into account that the Welsh team they face on Saturday will be a shadow of the team they beat in Paris earlier in the year and winning is far from a formality against a Wales team full of momentum.

A very close match which has the potential to be an epic could be the reward for rugby fans everywhere. The teams look extremely evenly matched, but the Welsh back row, led by skipper Sam Warburton will have the French half back pairing in their sights from the kick off and it is here where the match could be won or lost.

Additionally, in Mike Phillips at scrum half, Wales have a player at the top of his game who not only scores vital tries, his passing is so accurate and quick that he provides the much added dimension that Wales have been thriving on all tournament and with such belief, Wales can reach their first ever World Cup Final!

Written by Rod Crowley

England's Euro 2012 Qualification Overshadowed By Rooney Sending Off

In the end, England qualified for Euro 2012 in Poland/Ukraine with more than a degree of comfort from Group G and will now be amongst the second seeds when the draw is made for the finals on December 2nd in Kiev.

Already the hypothesisers have been busy voicing their opinions of pending English doom, suggesting that Fabio Capello’s men could find themselves in the same qualifying group as holders and world champions, Spain, Germany or Holland.

Image Credit Flickr User americanistadechiapas

An outcome which at this stage does not bear thinking about but nonetheless it is a potential outcome which significantly highlights the difficulties that England could face next June...

The situation is made worse after it emerged England will kick off the tournament off without start striker, Wayne Rooney, after he foolishly got himself sent off in the 2-2 draw against Montenegro for kicking out at Miodrag Dzudovic.

That red card will mean an automatic suspension for at least the first game in Euro 2012  but it will almost certainly become much worse when UEFA deal with the case on an individual basis and are likely to extend it to a two game ban.

Was it ironic or coincidental that Rooney should be sent off during the same week as his father, amongst others, was arrested for an alleged betting fraud offence concerning a sending off incident in a Scottish league game.

Looking at England’s progress in a more positive light, they should be praised for qualifying without losing a game, especially on the back of a dismal showing at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Fabio Capello has moved the team on significantly and created a very healthy, competitive spirit in the squad.

More importantly he has shown great courage in bringing in new face, clearly indicating that the old guard are now no longer guaranteed their places and if recent squads are anything to go by, only six of the 23 heading to Euro 2012 will have been part of the squad that went to South Africa last year.

Players such as Ashley Young, Darren Bent, Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Tom Cleverly and Jordan Henderson just to name a few of the rising stars that have all got themselves into the mix and could all be included in the squad for next summer's tournament.

Before all that, Capello will want to play at least two friendlies at Wembley by the end of this year, with the first of those against Spain taking place on Saturday, November 12th. A second game will be confirmed later this week, which could be against either Sweden or Portugal.

These games could be particularly significant for the international futures of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand, three players who could find themselves omitted from Capello’s thinking.

As far as the betting for Euro 2012 betting goes, Spain remain clear favourites to retain their crown with odds of 11/4 whilst Germany are considered next best at 4/1, while Holland are 6/1 and England now 9/1 after securing their place in the 16 team competition.

Written by Rod Crawley

QPR Sign Joey Barton From Newcastle United

Queens Park Rangers have today announced that they have signed Joey Barton from Newcastle United on a four-year deal, Barton was in London yesterday and after passing a medical with QPR and Barton announced earlier twitter page that he would make a decision today regarding his future.

Joey Barton said on twitter, “Going to have to make a decision today, it’s only fair to all parties.”

Barton has endured a turbulent time at St James’s Park recently, being fined for his outburst towards the clubs hierarchy and was forced to train with the club’s youth team.

Joey Barton has always maintained that he would of like to stay with Newcastle and has also said he loves the club, but it became hard for him to remain a player there after Newcastle owners we’re looking to off-load the former Manchester City midfielder.

Javier Hernandez Missed Out On Community Shield Encounter

Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez will miss this weekend’s Community Shield against neighbours Manchester City at Wembley, the Mexican has been able struggling with concussion which he received during United's pre-season tour of the USA.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson doesn’t want to take any risk with striker and has opted to rest Hernandez for the game on Sunday, the Mexican had an explosive start to his Premier League career last season but Fergie feels Hernandez won’t be ready until the end of the month.

Ferguson said: "Chicharito won't be involved for maybe another two or three weeks - considering he had a concussion some years ago we are just playing safe with that but he should be back by the end of August."
Sunday's Community Shield sees United face City for only the second time, but Ferguson suggest he won’t get too carried away with the occasion.

He said: "I have always viewed the Community Shield as a stepping stone to the first game of the season.
"It's very easy to get emotional about this type of game but I don't think we will be changing our policy. There may be two or three players who need the game on Sunday."