Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
On what was supposed to be a showcase night for Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions kicking off 2024, we saw one new signee flattened inside a round in the co-main event before veteran referee Tony Weeks produced another controversial early main event stoppage – this time souring Vergil Ortiz Jr’s long-awaited return against overmatched opponent Frederick Lawson.
Continue reading “Ortiz calls out WBO light-middleweight champion Tszyu after anticlimactic R1 KO”
Germany survived an inspired Alex de Minaur singles display to punch their ticket into the United Cup finals, where they’ll play last year’s semifinalists Poland overnight. Elsewhere, a rematch of last season’s Australian Open final serves as just one of three intriguing finals across Australia and New Zealand on both tours as the warm-up events before the year’s maiden Major hot up. Continue reading “Poland vs. Germany to decide United Cup as Sabalenka-Rybakina, Gauff-Svitolina and Rune-Dimitrov finals set elsewhere”
Primed for a welterweight world title shot, Vergil Ortiz Jr was searching for answers after a prolonged health scare saw him withdraw on multiple occasions from career-altering bouts. A rhabdomyolysis diagnosis wasn’t heeded but eventually, he came to the conclusion 147lbs wasn’t a sustainable weight cut any longer – so now it’s onwards to the light-middleweight division. Continue reading “After 17-month layoff, serious health concerns and more – Vergil Ortiz Jr is back”
12-year veteran guard Ricky Rubio has today retired from NBA basketball after announcing a break last August for mental health reasons. Golden State were dealt another untimely blow as a key rotational piece is sidelined for a few weeks, while top draft pick Victor Wembanyama is unhappy with his minutes restriction in San Antonio as the struggling Spurs chug along. Read more below. Continue reading “NBA news: Rubio retires, Payton II injury, Wemby’s minutes restriction plus more”
After logging his fourth consecutive submission victory to cap a busy 2023 schedule at Paul Craig’s expense, #8 ranked middleweight contender Brendan Allen has a golden opportunity to do what he has publicly stated is his destiny: showcase his championship credentials against a one-time title challenger and catapult himself into the top-5 rankings at 185lbs in three months’ time.
Continue reading “Brendan Allen earns springboard shot at 185lbs against Marvin Vettori on Apr. 6”
Continue reading “A week on: Inevitable Inoue breaks down Tapales, becomes undisputed champ again”
Four-time Major champion Naomi Osaka marked her competitive return after a 15-month break with a straight-sets win – 6-3, 7-6 (11-9) over Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch, as the new mother navigated through some nerves closing out her first-round clash. Up next is a sixth H2H meeting with Karolina Pliskova [16] in the early hours on Wednesday, where a tricky section of the draw lingers. Continue reading “WTA Brisbane: Naomi Osaka returns with straight-sets victory vs. Tamara Korpatsch”
It would’ve been easy to lose motivation and succumb to another spirited defeat against a top player after dropping the first set, but Katie Boulter responded well from a precarious position and produced some brilliant tennis en route to a three-set win over world no. 5 Jessica Pegula, clinching a new career-best singles result by ranking after their pulsating United Cup encounter.
Continue reading “United Cup: Boulter recovers to seal career-best win over Pegula in three sets”
Having held a long-standing interest in the 26-year-old, New York have today completed a multi-player trade package to acquire highly-rated Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby – sending RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a 2024 second-round draft pick the other way in a surprise move for a highly coveted asset many anticipate will kickstart trade movements leaguewide. Continue reading “Knicks shift RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and more in OG Anunoby trade”
Newly-crowned British middleweight champion Nathan Heaney is eyeing a world title shot against unified world titlist Janibek Alimkhanuly this time next year, after detailing his three-fight plan for 2024 – including headlining Stoke’s football stadium in the summer after making a defence of the Londsale belt. Continue reading “British middleweight champion Heaney eyes Janibek in three-fight plan for 2024”
Nine months after Max Holloway ended his perfect UFC run in the Briton’s first main event matchup, #3 ranked featherweight contender Arnold Allen looks to derail Movsar Evloev’s unbeaten streak during the first PPV card of 2024. Considering the 29-year-old’s title ambitions, he can’t afford to slip up against one of the division’s dark horses – whether the Russian has a big name or not. Continue reading “UFC 297: Arnold Allen cannot afford any missteps against unbeaten Movsar Evloev”
A notable change is coming to men’s tennis worldwide starting next week surrounding points won from tournament performances – a slight increase that indirectly makes it harder for lower-ranked players to rise up the rankings. Continue reading “ATP changes their points distribution for 2024 – details, information explained”
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