Boxing

Pauls overwhelms Heaney to claim British middleweight title in Birmingham rematch

Brad Pauls’ persistence saw him score two knockdowns and swarm Nathan Heaney to become the new British middleweight champion. Chantelle Cameron was classy in her Queensberry debut while Andrew Cain’s concussive power saw him unify bantamweight titles – after Ekow Essuman’s thrilling comeback knockout against Owen Cooper to win WBO European welterweight gold. Continue reading “Pauls overwhelms Heaney to claim British middleweight title in Birmingham rematch”

News

£15m rebuffed, West Ham push for Al-Ittihad’s N’Golo Kante in London return

Ngolo Kante of France and Alvaro Morata of Spain during the UEFA EURO 2024 semi-final match between Spain v France at Munich Football Arena on July...

Although they had a £15m verbal offer rejected out-of-hand on Thursday, West Ham are pursuing two-time Premier League champion N’Golo Kante as the acquisitions under new manager Julen Lopetegui continue to roll. Meanwhile, creative midfielder Lucas Pacqueta’s uncertain future will linger after investigations into his spot-fixing allegations won’t be resolved until 2025.
Continue reading “£15m rebuffed, West Ham push for Al-Ittihad’s N’Golo Kante in London return”

Boxing

Cordina’s complaints are warranted, but now stuck in limbo between two weights

Anthony Cacace punches Joe Cordina during the IBF and IBO World Super Featherweight titles' fight between Joe Cordina and Anthony Cacace at Kingdom...

In a lucrative super-featherweight unification bout against Anthony Cacace, Joe Cordina suffered a stunning stoppage defeat on Saudi Arabian soil two months ago. The now-former IBF titleholder had his unbeaten record stained and long been struggling at the weight, so what now? A lightweight move beckons as the Welshman joins an unwanted club in the apex of his career.

Continue reading “Cordina’s complaints are warranted, but now stuck in limbo between two weights”

Tennis

Alcaraz asserts himself in straight-sets Djokovic win during Wimbledon final rematch – but why was this so different?

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain lifts the Gentlemen's Singles Trophy following victory against Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the Gentlemen's Singles Final...

Back on Sunday afternoon, Carlos Alcaraz successfully defended his title at SW19 and joined rarefied air as the sixth player to complete the Channel Slam – clinching both Roland-Garros and Wimbledon titles in the same season – as the Spaniard started fast, served well and finished assertively against a less-than-100% Novak Djokovic during their final rematch. How did he do it this time? Continue reading “Alcaraz asserts himself in straight-sets Djokovic win during Wimbledon final rematch – but why was this so different?”

NBA

Rivers and Lillard play key roles as Gary Trent Jr signs one-year Milwaukee deal

Gary Trent Jr. #33 of the Toronto Raptors puts up a shot over Jae Crowder of the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half of their NBA game against the...

Gary Trent Jr will be reunited with former All-Star teammate Damian Lillard this coming season, after agreeing terms on a one-year deal to join the championship-contending Milwaukee Bucks following weeks of speculation about the now-former Toronto Raptors guard’s future. His new head coach Doc Rivers, who knows Gary’s dad Senior, flew to Miami to help recruit his services. Continue reading “Rivers and Lillard play key roles as Gary Trent Jr signs one-year Milwaukee deal”

Boxing

Crawford again the buzzword, as Ennis stops Avanesyan in Philly homecoming

Jaron Ennis’ new promoter Eddie Hearn insisted the prime priority is for the 27-year-old to unify a welterweight division devoid of longtime champions Errol Spence Jr and former undisputed king Terence Crawford, as the appetite for the Philly fighter to finally face the latter has again intensified following his fifth-round TKO win over former Crawford opponent David Avanesyan on home turf.
Continue reading “Crawford again the buzzword, as Ennis stops Avanesyan in Philly homecoming”

Match coverage

Spain 2-1 England: Oyarzabal’s late winner clinches record fourth Euro title in Berlin

Mikel Oyarzabal of Spain celebrates victory during the UEFA EURO 2024 final match between Spain and England at Olympiastadion on July 14, 2024 in...

Rodri off injured at half-time while captain Álvaro Morata didn’t have his shooting boots on. Neither potential storyline mattered though in the end, as two Real Sociedad substitutes – Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Oyarzabal – played an instrumental role during Spain’s stunning 2-1 win over England to emerge victorious in the Euro 2024 final, securing a record fourth tournament triumph. Continue reading “Spain 2-1 England: Oyarzabal’s late winner clinches record fourth Euro title in Berlin”

NBA

Olympics: Edwards-Haliburton duo rightly take pride, leading way for USAB in future

Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton of the Men's National Team look on during practice on July 13, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, The United Arab Emirates at...

The future is promised to no-one, but both Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards and Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton are tipped for longevity at the international level as the only USA players from last summer’s World Cup squad called up to feature in Olympic play later this month as part of a stacked club under Steve Kerr. Naturally, this serves as more invaluable experience.
Continue reading “Olympics: Edwards-Haliburton duo rightly take pride, leading way for USAB in future”

Boxing

Bohachuk-Ortiz on Aug. 10: Tszyu’s cut created this, but we’re richer regardless

Serhii Bohachuk faces off against Vergil Ortiz Jr at the Vergil Ortiz v Serhii Bohachuk kickoff presser at Golden Boy Building on July 11, 2024 in...

44 knockout wins in 46 combined bouts. Both look to make a splash on the world championship scene come Aug. 10 at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay, a week after now-former undisputed welterweight king Terence Crawford goes for more greatness in a fourth weight division vs. WBA titleholder Israil Madrimov. Tim Tszyu might now be a spectator, but who said the 154lb division was dead? Continue reading “Bohachuk-Ortiz on Aug. 10: Tszyu’s cut created this, but we’re richer regardless”

Tennis

Wimbledon 2024: Paolini vs. Krejcikova in Saturday’s final after comeback victories

Jasmine Paolini celebrates winning her match against Donna Vekic on day eleven of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and...

Jasmine Paolini recovered from a set down against Donna Vekic on semifinal Thursday, becoming the first French Open and Wimbledon ladies’ finalist in the same year since Serena Williams’ historic 2016 campaign. Barbora Krejcikova’s fighting spirit saw her oust 2022 champion Elena Rybakina later – an eighth different singles champion in the last eight editions will be sealed on Saturday. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2024: Paolini vs. Krejcikova in Saturday’s final after comeback victories”

Match coverage

England 2-1 Netherlands: Watkins wins it late as Southgate’s subs set up Spain final

England's forward Ollie Watkins shoots and scores his team's second goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final football match between the Netherlands...

Ollie Watkins’ 90th-minute winner, nine minutes after replacing captain Harry Kane, has sent an oft-criticised England side into consecutive European Championship finals as they again recovered from a goal behind to triumph – this time leaving Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands stunned – after riding the waves in an emotionally draining semi-final victory. Spain await on Sunday in Berlin. Continue reading “England 2-1 Netherlands: Watkins wins it late as Southgate’s subs set up Spain final”

Match coverage

Spain 2-1 France: Yamal’s wonderstrike sends inspired La Roja into Euro final

July 2024, Bavaria, Munich: Soccer, UEFA Euro 2024, European Championship, Spain - France, final round, semi-final, Munich Football Arena, Spain's...

France finally ended their open play goal drought but it wasn’t enough to stop Spain from overturning the slender deficit with a four-minute turnaround during an action-packed first-half, powered by teenage wonderkid Lamine Yamal four days before his 17th birthday as Luis de la Fuente’s side held firm in a frenzied second-half to seal a spot in Sunday’s European Championship final.
Continue reading “Spain 2-1 France: Yamal’s wonderstrike sends inspired La Roja into Euro final”