Novak Djokovic returns to ATP No. 1 with his 23rd Slam title; Iga Swiatek stays at WTA No. 1
Novak Djokovic has returned to No. 1 in the ATP rankings after winning the French Open for a men’s-record 23rd Grand Slam title
2023-06-12 17:52
Chinese superfan books into Messi hotel for glimpse of hero
It took hours of waiting, a pricey hotel room and an exhausting chase through Beijing, but it was all worth it for a Chinese fan of Lionel Messi who eventually...
2023-06-12 17:51
Frankfurt hires former Bayern Munich assistant Dino Toppmöller as new coach
Eintracht Frankfurt has appointed former Bayern Munich assistant coach Dino Toppmöller as head coach to replace Oliver Glasner
2023-06-12 17:50
Berlusconi and AC Milan - passion, politics and trophies
Silvio Berlusconi's name will forever be associated with AC Milan, the football club he took over in the 1980s and with his immense wealth turned from a...
2023-06-12 17:49
Josh Taylor plunged into the unknown as Teofimo Lopez earns redemptive win
It was a bad night for Josh Taylor in the Garden ring in New York City on Saturday. Taylor was beaten by Teofimo Lopez over 12 rounds in a shock. It was certainly not the fight that Taylor expected. Taylor suffered defeat for the first time in 20 fights, he lost his one remaining world championship belt and at the end he offered no excuses. “The better man won,” he managed, his voice crackling with emotions. Taylor was putting on a brave face to mask the despair. It had been a fiery and ugly build-up and Lopez had talked of killing Taylor in the ring. Lopez, who has his own personal battles away from the ring, apologised for the comment and received a peck on the cheek for his honesty. “It’s all song and dance,” Taylor told him. It was an oddly respectful end to a week of promises, insults and stupid claims. It was also glorious redemption for Lopez, once the No 1 at lightweight. Lopez had lost his way on both sides of the ropes, and finished his last fight asking his team live on air if he still “had it”? It was a difficult interview to watch; on Saturday in the ring in the Garden’s basement theatre, Lopez rediscovered the form most people thought had vanished. He is still only 25, by the way. It was a close fight that Lopez won clearly and that often happens when two very good boxers meet. One judge, Benoit Roussel, scored it wide in Lopez’s favour. His 9-3 verdict was too wide, to be honest. The other two judges, Steve Gray and Joseph Pasquale, returned identical scores of 115-113, which means 7-5 in rounds in Lopez’s favour. Taylor never complained, but had he won the last round, he would have retained his title with a majority drawn verdict. Instead, Taylor had to surrender his beloved world championship belt; last year, Taylor held all four belts at super-lightweight before slowly losing the struggle to keep the quartet of baubles in a protracted series of skirmishes with the sanctioning bodies. Taylor has not fought since February of last year and had been placed under relentless pressure to carry out his mandatory requirements. He surrendered, under threat of being stripped, three belts and was left with just the WBO; he was still considered the best at his weight. Taylor, incidentally, had won all four belts in a series of fights against six men with a combined record of 133 wins and not one loss. Taylor was, make no mistake, the best in the world at his weight. That changed in the Garden ring. Lopez was too mobile, too slick and Taylor was just off the pace. It is not a tricky fight to understand; Lopez just worked that bit harder. Taylor had talked before about moving away from the 140-pound limit of super-lightweight and going to welterweight. In New York late on Saturday, there was also talk of a rematch. Taylor will let the loss settle and then make a decision, but hopefully he will not take another sixteen-month break. On the same night, it was the Sunny Edwards show at Wembley Arena and he retained his IBF flyweight title for the fourth time. On his undercard, Nina Hughes retained her WBA bantamweight title over 10 rounds against Katie Healy and in the bloody fight of the night, Ellie Scotney won the IBF super-bantamweight title. Scotney, having just her seventh fight, was too smart, tough and determined for New Zealand’s Cherneka Sugar Johnson. There was a dark and deep cut by Johnson’s right eye for most of the blood-splattered fight. Scotney was quite brilliant, Johnson’s five MÄori-haka men stole the show with their routine before she walked to the ring. It was her highlight, they were exceptional. Edwards was a clear winner of nine of the 12 rounds, but the Chilean, Andres Campos, kept it competitive. “I need tests,” Edwards admitted. And he does and the tests might start later this year. And I hope so - Edwards has the style, craft and personality to be a big attraction. Edwards has a deal with his new promoter, Eddie Hearn, for the big fights; there are three other world champions at flyweight, but Edwards wants Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez – the WBO flyweight champion and a genuine threat. Rodriguez is unbeaten in 18, just 23, the former world champion at super-flyweight and, according to heavy rumour, he wants our Sunny. As a twist - and it is a good one - Sunny has signed and agreed to the fight, which includes the money terms, with Rodriguez as part of his deal with Hearn. Rodriguez can be enticed over for a December showdown. That, by the way, is a super fight. Edwards won clearly, Hughes did the same, Scotney’s win was hard but clear and in New York, in the basement theatre at the Garden once evocatively known as the Felt Forum, Taylor was left wondering what went wrong. There were no excuses, but there will be some questions. Read More Teofimo Lopez hands Josh Taylor his first defeat with decision win in New York Josh Taylor says move up to welterweight is ‘imminent’ after first career defeat Miami Heat mascot hospitalised after Conor McGregor punch Josh Taylor says move up to welterweight is ‘imminent’ after first career defeat Teofimo Lopez hands Josh Taylor his first defeat with decision win in New York Who is fighting on Josh Taylor vs Teofimo Lopez undercard tonight?
2023-06-12 17:47
Italy's scandal-hit Berlusconi dies at 86
Silvio Berlusconi, who dominated Italian public life for decades as a billionaire media mogul, businessman and prime minister...
2023-06-12 17:20
All the best Soccer Aid memes and reactions as World XI beat England
The biggest charity football match in the world took place on Sunday night, with Soccer Aid raising £14,619,005 by full-time. The World XI earned a fifth successive victory over England after winning 4-2, with reality star Kem Cetinay creating Soccer Aid history. He is now the record goalscorer with five goals in the competition and he led the way on a night that saw England well beaten by the final whistle. Usain Bolt opened the scoring for the World XI, but Sex Education star Asa Butterfield equalised for the World XI before Robbie Keane scored a brace. Cetinay then scored a breakaway goal to secure the win. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter New Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino was in the dugout ahead of his return to management next season and he helped to guide the World XI to victory from the sidelines. The game sparked a lot of reaction on social media – these are the best memes and reactions to the result. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-06-12 17:18
Betis duo Ruibal and Iglesias blast homophobic abuse
Real Betis players Aitor Ruibal and Borja Iglesias strongly criticised homophobic attacks from social media users late Sunday after being pictured holding bags at...
2023-06-12 16:45
Football transfer rumours: Tottenham consider Sancho bid; Neymar wanted in Saudi Arabia
Monday's football transfer rumours include Man Utd's Jadon Sancho, Neymar & Saudi Arabia, Kim Min-jae, Federico Chiesa, James Ward-Prowse, Joao Cancelo & more.
2023-06-12 16:24
India, Australia fined heavily for slow WTC over rates
India have been fined 100 percent and Australia 80 percent of their match fees for slow over rates in the World Test Championship final, the...
2023-06-12 16:15
'Messi mania' in China as fans clamor for a glimpse of Argentina star
Beijing police have urged fans of Lionel Messi not to be cheated by expensive scams after the soccer superstar landed in China last weekend.
2023-06-12 15:19
Soccer Aid: Triumphant World XI lift trophy after beating England
Watch the moment the World XI lifted the Soccer Aid trophy after beating England 4-2 at Old Trafford. The charity football match returned on Sunday (11 June), raising an incredible £14,619,005 for Unicef by full-time. Kem Cetinay made Soccer Aid history by becoming top scorer - he now has five goals over the years - as the World XI won 4-2 on the night. Cetinay rounded off the scoring after his captain and Olympian Usain Bolt scored the first goal before half-time. Sex Education star Asa Butterfield got England level after the break and Paul Scholes then put the Three Lions ahead. However, Robbie Keane stole the spotlight, scoring a double to put the World XI back in front, before Cetinay confirmed the team’s fifth consecutive win. Read More Soccer Aid: Who are the celebrities playing in charity football match Novak Djokovic lays down on French Open tennis court after historic win Champions League: Manchester City leave hotel after historic treble
2023-06-12 14:46
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