CBS: Positives in Cherries defeat and eyeing up interim WBO title _(Image: PA)_
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YOU may be wondering why it's a Monday article. Well, I had to watch the game Friday night. That's right. WE ARE BACK. The 2025/26 premier league season is upon us. The fixtures fell kindly, by giving us reigning champions, Liverpool, first game of the season.
A pretty solid first 35 minutes, \*cough\* thanks to a let off for Marcos \*cough\*, before we conceded, what felt like a bit of a cheap goal. We closed the first half pretty well but unable to capitalise. An incident from the first period that needs to be addressed is Antoine Semenyo receiving racial abuse. At time of writing, I'm unsure on what exactly was said, but racial abuse is unacceptable. Antoine was rightly and clearly upset with the remark. The person was found and I hope at the bare minimum they get dealt with, apologise and get educated.
_(Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)_ Second half. We were put on the back foot immediately and we conceded the second pretty sharpish. Brooksy, with a point to prove after not too many starts last season, gave Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold replacement nightmares throughout. He created the perfect response for Semenyo with a delightful ball across the box for Antoine to put it away comfortably. The best way to react to the incident in the first half. He wasn't done there though. He then travelled three quarters of the pitch with the ball and finished superbly to make it 2-2. Really goes to show the measure of the man he is.
Liverpool took back the lead and ended up winning 4-2. Nonetheless a positive performance to start the season. Same work ethic, same style of play, same Andoni Iraola side. A promising season ahead. On to Wolves.
_(Image: Richard Crease)_ On to boxing. The WBO president put out the following statement:
1\. WBO Cruiserweight division.
"In light of Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez’s injury & recovery process, the WBO will sanction an Interim Title bout between the first available contenders. Bout will be subject to ensuring Interim status is terminated expeditiously per WBO Rules...
2\. Interim titles are warranted only under exceptional circumstances and in line with the WBO’s policy of one world champion per weight class, ensuring the division remains active while upholding the integrity of our championships."
Currently I am the WBO Number 1 and the WBO Number 2 is available, therefore we will be pursuing this route for my next fight which is extremely exciting. Of course I'll be requesting it to be here, at home. I would love another night at the BIC, with my booming hometown support behind me. I'll do my utmost to make that happen for all of us.