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No-one likes to fight down in the rankings, not least seasoned veterans more eager to boost their championship credentials and especially on short-notice. While not indirectly, Dustin Poirier’s stoppage win over Benoit Saint-Denis has resonated with others in a similar situation – including longtime contender Vicente Luque, facing unranked Joaquin Buckley in New Jersey this weekend. Continue reading “Luque taking a leaf out of the Poirier playbook with unranked Buckley next”
After a disappointing start to 2024 by his exceedingly high standards, 24-time Major champion Novak Djokovic’s announcement this week that he was ending his highly successful five-year coaching partnership with Goran Ivanisevic was both ruthless and said all it needed to. The world no. 1 is wading through another wave of talent hungry to knock him off his perch permanently. Continue reading “Djokovic’s Ivanisevic decision typifies the cost of being king – for better and worse”
Having been criticised after boxing overmatched opposition and fighting infrequently, new British lightweight champion Sam Noakes responded by doing what he always has: working quietly and letting the subtle intricacies show themselves on fight night. Announced to headline a York Hall card on Apr. 20, it’ll be his third bout in 141 days – he doesn’t want it to stop there, either. Continue reading “Sam Noakes knows he must keep winning to set up Chamberlain contest, and beyond”
De’Andre Hunter’s three-point dagger with 9.2 seconds remaining sunk the Eastern Conference’s best team by record in a shellshocked Boston, who led by as many as 30 points during a tale of two halves as Atlanta rallied together after half-time without a cluster of their injured key players to log a morale-boosting comeback win at home, weeks before their postseason fate is settled. Continue reading “De’Andre Hunter’s dagger sinks Boston, capping a remarkable Atlanta turnaround”
It wasn’t plain sailing all the way through, but Victoria Azarenka’s experience in tight moments paid dividends as the two-time Major champion outlasted British number one Katie Boulter during two contrasting sets of tennis to punch her ticket into the Miami Open quarter-finals for the first time in six years. Continue reading “Miami Open: Azarenka content, but not satisfied after notching gritty Boulter win”
Former two-time strawweight champion Rose Namajunas outpointed Amanda Ribas over five rounds to snap her losing streak and notch a first win at 125lbs as she targets becoming a two-weight titlist. However, their main event matchup underwhelmed and did little to dismiss regression concerns with head trainer Trevor Wittman again not in her corner as she laboured to victory here.
Continue reading “UFC Vegas 89: Namajunas poses more questions than answers after Ribas win”
Ashley Lane displayed the value of persistence at bantamweight, capping Friday night’s action packed with finishes by overwhelming Chris Bourke to secure a rare stoppage, winning more domestic honours. Willy Hutchinson ended his layoff emphatically while heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma wasted no time after 2020 Olympian Luke McCormack’s long-awaited debut. Continue reading “York Hall: Lane leaves Bourke battered, claims British bantamweight gold in upset”
Should I stay and push for more or venture in the unknown? That’s the impending dilemma for Arsenal forward Eddie Nketiah, and a few other teammates in a similar situation to consider this coming summer as a series of interested clubs continue to approach the Gunners about his availability. Is it time to make an uncomfortable choice that could benefit him in the long run? Continue reading “Brentford, Crystal Palace and Wolves all circling for Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah”
After two contrasting decision defeats in her last two bouts, two-time former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas outlined the burning motivation behind a desire to conquer a new weight division at 125lbs. She gets a showcase opportunity this weekend against a highly-regarded ranked opponent in Amanda Ribas, with the flyweight landscape still navigating choppy waters. Continue reading “UFC Vegas 89: Namajunas motivated by falling short vs. Fiorot, Ribas now awaits”
18 months after her last competitive appearance on tour following injury and a reduced drugs suspension, former world no. 1 and two-time Major champion Simona Halep made an encouraging return to action in America’s sunshine state but predictably ran out of steam against Paula Badosa in a tricky first-round contest as one of the tournament’s marquee wildcard entries this week. Continue reading “Miami Open: Halep hustles on return, but Badosa earns three-set comeback win”
They could’ve leaned into the fact injuries have hurt their sense of continuity, or a rough recent schedule hurting form but instead star forward Paul George declared they lack an identity after their home defeat by an Atlanta side without Trae Young on Sunday. Collectively, their efforts don’t exude the same confidence it once did earlier this term as the playoffs are fast approaching. Continue reading “Lacking identity? Clippers’ teething problems persist at worst possible time”
Continue reading “Topuria’s coach Climent insists new champion will sell out Real’s Bernabeu”
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