Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Two-time world title challenger Anthony Yarde returns, as does Zach Parker with both hoping to shake off ring rust after an eventful year for many reasons. Yet elsewhere on tonight’s undercard, Ezra Taylor faces his sternest test yet at light-heavyweight while Pierce O’Leary targets another quick night and teenage heavyweight Moses Itauma boxes for the fifth time in eight months. Continue reading “Zhang-Joyce 2: Ezra Taylor, Pierce O’Leary feature on an undercard you can’t forget”
#6 ranked lightweight contender Rafael Fiziev believes he’s grown stronger for the experience after being outpointed by former interim champion Justin Gaethje six months ago, and enters tomorrow’s Fight Night headliner against Mateusz Gamrot [7] aware of the heavy grappling game his opponent presents. Can the 30-year-old successfully nullify those dangers over 25 minutes though? Continue reading “UFC Vegas 79: Fiziev feels he can handle Gamrot’s wrestling on Saturday night”
It was a tempestuous night with 23 fouls, 11 yellow cards and shaky officiating on the south Coast, yet Premier League overachievers Brighton only had themselves to blame as their maiden European campaign got off to a sour start at home vs. Greek champions AEK Athens. Their summer signing and Argentine striker Ezequiel Ponce, came off the bench to sting them without warning. Continue reading “Brighton 2-3 AEK Athens: Ponce punctures Seagulls’ European debut in late drama”
Zhilei Zhang ripped up the script in April, making a fool of those who overlooked him and snatched the WBO interim world heavyweight title from Joe Joyce on enemy territory. Now, the 40-year-old needs to do it again in their rematch to set up a seismic 2024 as bigger fights await Saturday’s winner, something he has taken into consideration with an enhanced training camp this time around. Continue reading “Zhang on motivation, making training developments and targeting Joyce’s eye”
After ending a 16-month layoff, women’s flyweight contender Tracy Cortez improved to 5-0 in the Octagon with a UD3 win over Jasmine Jasudavicius but wasn’t satisfied being stashed on the Noche UFC card’s early prelims – headlined by a title fight in her division. With more activity, a steady step-up in opposition and more composure, she could soon make a title push of her own. Continue reading “Tracy Cortez targets a title tilt, and given the women’s flyweight picture – why not?”
Joe Joyce has had time to reflect on his first career defeat and as this weekend’s heavyweight rematch edges ever closer, the former WBO interim world champion is steadfast in wanting a return to the top table – but needs to right the wrongs from five months prior against Zhilei Zhang. Plenty was said about his weight for their maiden matchup, but what does the Juggernaut think?
Continue reading “Joyce on fluctuating weight, desire to improve and more before Zhang rematch”
Fresh from securing world championship status and spearheading his nation halfway across the globe with Germany, new Toronto Raptors guard Dennis Schroder will look to continue in the same vein once the 2023-24 NBA season begins on October 24. Reunited again alongside old faces and with different expectations, the FIBA World Cup MVP’s trajectory is one to keep an eye on. Continue reading “Schroder had a summer to savour, but more responsibility awaits him in Toronto”
Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko 2 was exactly as advertised: a much different fight than their first showdown just six months later, with both enjoying periods of success and throwing strikes aplenty across all angles trying to wrestle UFC gold from the other’s grasp. Instead though, after a thrilling contest over 25 minutes, we’re left to lament poor judging once again. Continue reading “Noche UFC: Grasso-Shevchenko 2 ends in split draw after contentious scorecards”
Continue reading “Noche UFC: So with doubts heightened, what does Valentina have in store?”
Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich were said to be flirting with the fullback all summer long, but Manchester City’s Kyle Walker says his desire to complete another treble-winning season – like their unprecedented 2022-23 campaign – is why he rejected their advances to extend his stay at Eastlands, until 2026.
Continue reading “Bayern target Walker: Repeating treble-winning success was key in City extension”
Former undisputed light-welterweight world champion Josh Taylor believes he simply had a bad night when losing via decision against WBO champion Teofimo Lopez in June, and has expressed his desire to move towards big money fights as the Scotsman reaches the back nine of an illustrious pro career. Continue reading “Taylor insists he has plenty of options, simply had a bad night in Lopez defeat”
Well then, who saw that coming? Sean Strickland is now king of the UFC middleweights after a fantastic display of pressure and stern defence over 25 minutes bamboozled Israel Adesanya into submission at the weekend, on enemy soil no less, as fresh matchups galore have been cracked open after the American’s shock title victory in Australia. Click to read more, for the debrief. Continue reading “UFC 293 – The debrief: Strickland stuns, outboxes Adesanya to earn 185lb gold”
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