The world of sport never fails to keep us on the edge of our seats, and October promises to be another exciting month of action — with blockbuster events set to take place across a variety of sports as the darker nights begin to kick in and the autumn leaves start to fall.
That said, read on as we take a look at some of the dates you need for your diary to ensure that you don’t miss some of this year’s biggest sporting events.
NFL London Games
American football continues to grow year-on-year in the United Kingdom, and that is mainly thanks to the National Football League’s (NFL) initiative to start hosting games in London back in 2007 — with the soon-to-be Super Bowl winners the New York Giants facing the Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium.
The NFL returns to the capital with three fixtures this October, as the Jacksonville Jaguars feature twice against the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley Stadium on October 1 and the Buffalo Bills at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 8. The Baltimore Ravens will face the Tennessee Titans at Spurs’ ground on October 15 to round off this year’s games.
Leigh Wood vs Josh Warrington
A battle of Britain in the squared circle is also sure to attract the attention of boxing fans here in the United Kingdom, and anticipation is already rife ahead of Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington going head-to-head in Sheffield on October 7 for the WBA featherweight title.
Tensions are going to reach boiling point in the Utilita Arena as these two Yorkshire natives look to earn the bragging rights for Leeds or Sheffield. Wood is out to defend his title in his own backyard and is the favourite in the boxing betting, but Warrington is no stranger to being the underdog in this type of fight having already beaten fellow Brits Lee Selby and Carl Frampton earlier in his career.
Elsewhere in the boxing world, Tommy Fury and popular YouTuber KSI are due to trade blows at the AO Arena in Manchester on October 14 . Tommy’s older brother Tyson is set to make his long-awaited return to the ring with a bout against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia on October 28.
British Champions Day
Since its inauguration in 2011, British Champions Day at Ascot has become one of the most popular racedays on the calendar. It marks the end of the flat racing season in the United Kingdom and the biggest names in the sport descend on the famed Berkshire track as there is over £4 million up for grabs.
This year’s season finale on October 21 is extra special, as it marks the final meeting in Europe for popular jockey Frankie Dettori before he says his emotional goodbye and hangs up the saddle. It will be close to a sell-out as thousands flock to Ascot to see the legendary Italian for one last time.
Rugby World Cup Final
The Rugby World Cup is currently underway in France, but the winner of the sought-after Webb Ellis Cup won’t be decided until October 28 — when the final is due to take place at the Stade de France in Paris.
There is very little to separate three-time winners New Zealand, defending champions South Africa, hosts France and World No.1-ranked side Ireland in the betting. So there is certainly a lot of interest in the 2023 renewal of the Rugby World Cup, as it looks more wide open than ever before.
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Notable football fixtures:
Arsenal vs Manchester City – October 8
Chelsea vs Arsenal – October 21
Liverpool vs Everton – October 21
Manchester United vs Manchester City – October 29
