After Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson, Arlington arena to host another damp squib when Dallas Cowboys return to NFL action

Yesterday at 08:02 AM

'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' wrote Charles Dickens in his blockbuster about the French Revolution, A Tale of Two Cities.

The story was released 165 years ago but the phrase perfectly encapsulates the thoughts of everyone who stayed up in the early hours of Saturday morning to watch former undisputed world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson fight YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on Netflix.

The fight which preceded it was an absolute belter between Ireland's super-lightweight champion Katie Taylor as she successfully defended her IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO titles against lion-hearted Puerto Rican Amanda Serrano.

Fight fans at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, were on their feet cheering both boxers as they traded non-stop blows throughout the titanic ten-round contest.

London Olympics gold medallist Taylor, still going strong aged 38, beat Serrano who is two years younger, in a controversial split decision at Madison Square Garden in New York in April 2022 in an absolute barnstormer.

There was further controversy in this scintillating sequel with Serrano sustaining a gaping cut above her right eye after an accidental clash of heads in the sixth round and Taylor was later deducted a point for a headbutt in the eighth.

But despite claims of a robbery from casual boxing fans and boos from the 72,000 crowd, the defending champion was rightly awarded the fight 95-94 by all three judges.

The live coverage was criticised on social media for constantly being interrupted by buffering but in truth when it came to the heavyweight fight between 58-year-old Tyson and 27-year-old Paul, those who lost connection were the lucky ones.

There were more boos and jeers throughout as Paul stumbled his way to a points victory after eight lethargic rounds and if he really wants to be respected he must fight a credible professional heavyweight of his own age next time out.

It's not a good time to be a sports fan in Dallas as the Monday Night Football duel between the Cowboys and their NFL neighbours from Houston could be another drab contest with both teams combining for just one win in the past month. Take the Texans to prevail by more than 4.5 points at evens with BoyleSports and double it up with under 40.5 points at 11/10 with the same firm.

• Under normal circumstances yours truly would be crowing about three of four tips for the Irish Greyhound Derby reaching the final at Shelbourne Park. The trouble is the fourth selection was English runner March On Freddie, preferred to his full brother Bockos Diamond at a better price.

Freddie was eliminated in the semi-finals at the weekend while the Diamond maintained his unbeaten run to the Dublin decider by equaling his record 28.94 seconds record set in the third round when, to be fair, he was then flagged up here at 13/8.

Trained by former Portsmouth and Hove handler Graham Holland, he has a plum draw in trap,six for the showpiece showdown and is just 3/10 with sponsors Boylesports to scoop the £104,000 first prize.

Cheap Sandwiches at 16/1, BoyleSports Bob at 12/1 and 50/1 Singalong Dolly have cashed the each-way part of our bets by reaching the final and will still land enjoyable rewards if backed e/w in the last race of a terrific competition.

Dolly can blast out from trap two and stay on strongly to finish second and is worth that each-way tickle at 25/1 with bet365, Paddy Power and Betfair.

• Sir Alex Ferguson is still winning silverware even though he is no longer Manchester United's manager. He is part of the team which owns L'Eau Du Sud, who has been cut from 40/1 to 16/1 with Paddy Power for the Arkle back at the Cheltenham Festival in March following an eye-catching victory at the Cotswold course on Saturday.

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