Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Richard Riakporhe hopes to realise his dream in becoming a cruiserweight world champion at his beloved Crystal Palace’s football stadium this weekend, much like defending champion and former foe Chris Billam-Smith realised 13 months earlier on the south Coast. Five years after their first fight plenty has changed for both – is now the perfect time for history to repeat itself or not?
Continue reading “Richard Riakporhe interview: Relishing experiences before dream world title shot”
A man with more than a vested interest in this weekend’s Selhurst Park main event is Lawrence Okolie. He praised former gymmate Chris Billam-Smith a year on from their Bournemouth bout, but also questioned whether the WBO cruiserweight world champion can manage to go to the well again in deep waters against mandatory challenger Richard Riakporhe this weekend. Continue reading “CBS-Riakporhe 2: Okolie unsure about Billam-Smith’s durability vs. his local rival”
Having missed the whole European clay campaign with a rib injury, former world no. 3 Jessica Pegula revealed she would’ve returned had Roland Garros begun a week later. Nonetheless, she embraced Iga Swiatek’s brilliance on clay and the American returned to court with a straight-sets victory over powerful qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich at this year’s Libema Open in the Netherlands. Continue reading “Jessica Pegula back healthy after rib injury, keen to build momentum on grass”
Nathan Heaney speculation in the rearview mirror, Carlos Adames prepares to make the first defence of his newly-elevated WBC middleweight championship this weekend against former light-middleweight title challenger Terrell Gausha on a stacked Las Vegas bill, but insisted fans want to see him in a unification bout against WBO and IBF titleholder Janibek Alimkhanuly before long. Continue reading “As Nathan Heaney rumours fade, Carlos Adames now targets Janibek unification”
Luka Doncic produced a 32-point triple double during Sunday’s Game 2 showing for Dallas, though coughed up eight turnovers – Boston had 10 as a team – and missed four of eight free-throw attempts, pointing to those two factors as a key reason behind their 105-98 defeat. While it’s natural for their franchise centrepiece to absorb blame, their shortcomings are much deeper than that.
Continue reading “NBA Finals: Doncic’s triple-double not enough as Dallas dented again in Game 2”
Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz recovered from a puzzling third set collapse, one set away from a painful defeat. The 21-year-old composed himself once more and produced expert shot-making painting the lines in clutch moments to eventually outlast Olympic gold medallist Alexander Zverev in a four-hour battle of attrition between two first-time French Open finalists.
Continue reading “Alcaraz beats nerves and Zverev in five-set rollercoaster for maiden French Open title”
First-time finalist Jasmine Paolini was aggressive in threatening an early scare, breaking Iga Swiatek to lead 2-1 as the Pole sprayed some uncharacteristic errors. Yet she responded precisely as you’d expect the world no. 1 to on her favourite surface: 10 straight games banked en route to another straight-sets French Open final victory – three straight titles in Paris and fifth Major overall.
Continue reading “Iga imperious to sweep another French Open title vs. first-time finalist Paolini”
Kristaps Porzingis had 20 points and three blocks in 21 minutes on a memorable return from injury, Conference Finals MVP Jaylen Brown had a 22-point, three-steal and block game as Boston eventually eased beyond a careless Mavericks side struggling with their distance shooting. Jayson Tatum was honest postgame, and that doesn’t bode well for Dallas’ chances going forward…
Continue reading “NBA Finals: Tatum calm as Boston cruise past Dallas on Porzingis’ return in Game 1”
Speculation over the past few weeks have intensified suggesting British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley will finally sign a multi-fight deal to tie himself down with a major promoter, rumoured to be Frank Warren’s Queensberry stable. The 29-year-old’s advisor Mike Ofo insists that, regardless of his next move, that won’t prevent a Frazer Clarke rematch.
Continue reading “Wardley-Clarke 2 not in jeopardy, should British champion join another promoter”
Continue reading “Theatre closed indefinitely as Djokovic undergoes surgery after Cerundolo win”
Seven years after Real had a €180m bid accepted for the then-Monaco wonderkid, the newly-crowned 15-time Champions League winners have their man. Kylian Mbappe’s dream has been realised, having made history at home with Paris Saint-Germain, and now the France captain will acclimatise to new surroundings and expectations with Los Blancos after Euro 2024 this month. Continue reading “Mbappe’s long-awaited dream realised at long last, as Real confirm multi-year deal”
Novak Djokovic was trailing and in trouble against Lorenzo Musetti as a shock result looked likely in the early hours on Sunday. He clicked into gear and produced some inspired tennis under duress, just as the Italian’s level dropped, and now the Serb is into the business end of another Major – where his steely defiance is magnified. A first H2H meeting with Francisco Cerundolo beckons. Continue reading “Cerundolo the next challenge as Djokovic recovers to beat Musetti in five-set thriller”
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