Tottenham Hotspur's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho is a fan of boxing and was given a special invitation to the Clash on the Dunes. AFP / Oli SCARFF
Tottenham Hotspur's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho is a fan of boxing and was given a special invitation to the Clash on the Dunes. AFP / Oli SCARFF
Tottenham Hotspur's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho is a fan of boxing and was given a special invitation to the Clash on the Dunes. AFP / Oli SCARFF
Tottenham Hotspur's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho is a fan of boxing and was given a special invitation to the Clash on the Dunes. AFP / Oli SCARFF

Clash on the Dunes: Jose Mourinho turns down invitation to attend Joshua-Ruiz Jr fight


John McAuley
  • English
  • Arabic

Had he not been appointed manager of Tottenham Hotspur late last month, Jose Mourinho would most likely be in Saudi Arabia this weekend, taking in a bit of history.

The Spurs manager, a boxing fan, said on Friday that he was given a special invitation to attend “Clash on the Dunes” in Diriyah on Saturday night, when Andy Ruiz Jr and Anthony Joshua go head-to-head in their world heavyweight title rematch.

Joshua will attempt to reclaim the WBA, IBF and WBO belts he lost in a shock defeat to Ruiz in New York on June 1 – labelled one of the greatest shocks in boxing history.

Yet Mourinho won’t be there to see how it all unfolds. The Portuguese manager took the Spurs reigns on November 20 following Mauricio Pochettino’s sacking the previous day, and therefore will instead by looking to guide his new side to a bounce-back victory against Burnley at home. Mourinho suffered his first defeat as Tottenham manager on Wednesday, losing 2-1 to former employers Manchester United.

Asked on Friday if he thought Joshua could win back his belts in Saudi, Mourinho, who was at the O2 Arena in 2016 to see the Olympic champion triumph against Charles Martin, said: “That's the only bad thing for me in getting the job at Tottenham that I’m not going to be there. I was invited by the Prince to be there, but I prefer to be in the match against Burnley.

Pushed as to whether he expected a Joshua victory, Mourinho replied: “I’m not an expert. I just love the sport. I like Anthony very much because he's a great kid and I hope he wins. But in sport you can lose. So let's see.”

RESULTS

Light Flyweight (48kg): Alua Balkibekova (KAZ) beat Gulasal Sultonalieva (UZB) by points 4-1.

Flyweight (51kg): Nazym Kyzaibay (KAZ) beat Mary Kom (IND) 3-2.

Bantamweight (54kg): Dina Zholaman (KAZ) beat Sitora Shogdarova (UZB) 3-2.

Featherweight (57kg): Sitora Turdibekova (UZB) beat Vladislava Kukhta (KAZ) 5-0.

Lightweight (60kg): Rimma Volossenko (KAZ) beat Huswatun Hasanah (INA) KO round-1.

Light Welterweight (64kg): Milana Safronova (KAZ) beat Lalbuatsaihi (IND) 3-2.

Welterweight (69kg): Valentina Khalzova (KAZ) beat Navbakhor Khamidova (UZB) 5-0

Middleweight (75kg): Pooja Rani (IND) beat Mavluda Movlonova (UZB) 5-0.

Light Heavyweight (81kg): Farida Sholtay (KAZ) beat Ruzmetova Sokhiba (UZB) 5-0.

Heavyweight (81 kg): Lazzat Kungeibayeva (KAZ) beat Anupama (IND) 3-2.

THREE
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Company%20profile
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The flights 
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes. 
Where to stay 
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.

Juvenile arthritis

Along with doctors, families and teachers can help pick up cases of arthritis in children.
Most types of childhood arthritis are known as juvenile idiopathic arthritis. JIA causes pain and inflammation in one or more joints for at least six weeks.
Dr Betina Rogalski said "The younger the child the more difficult it into pick up the symptoms. If the child is small, it may just be a bit grumpy or pull its leg a way or not feel like walking,” she said.
According to The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases in US, the most common symptoms of juvenile arthritis are joint swelling, pain, and stiffness that doesn’t go away. Usually it affects the knees, hands, and feet, and it’s worse in the morning or after a nap.
Limping in the morning because of a stiff knee, excessive clumsiness, having a high fever and skin rash are other symptoms. Children may also have swelling in lymph nodes in the neck and other parts of the body.
Arthritis in children can cause eye inflammation and growth problems and can cause bones and joints to grow unevenly.
In the UK, about 15,000 children and young people are affected by arthritis.

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
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Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE