Boxing / Sports

Boxing Great Known For Power Punching And Heavyweight Title Fights Was 78

Earnie Shavers, considered one of boxing’s hardest punchers during his long career, died Thursday at 78. No cause was revealed in reports.

Shavers was best known for his work in the 1970s, although he was active from 1969 through 1995. Overall, he was 74-14-1 with 68 knockouts in his career. He fought Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes for the heavyweight title, losing to Ali in a 15-round decision in 1977 at Madison Square Garden. It was a close decision and Ali needed a strong final round to pull out the victory.

After the fight, Ali praised Shavers’ power. “Earnie hit me so hard, it shook my kinfolk in Africa,” Ali said.

Ali was not the only heavyweight impressed with Shavers. Shavers fought heavyweight champ Larry Holmes twice, the first time being a non-title bout on March 25, 1978 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, his first after losing to Ali. Holmes won a 12-round decision over Shavers in that match, and in his next fight, beat Ken Norton to win the vacant WBC title.

Shavers and Holmes fought for the WBC belt at Caesars on Sept. 28, 1979. In the seventh round, Shavers knocked Holmes down. Holmes got up and proceeded to stop Shavers in the 11th.

After the fight, Holmes said the punch Shavers hit him with to drop him was the hardest he’d ever been hit.

Shavers made several comebacks, ending things after a second-round knockout loss when he was 48 years old.

The biggest win of his career was in March 1979, when he knocked out Ken Norton in the first round at the Las Vegas Hilton. He also had a win over former heavyweight champion Jimmy Ellis, as well as touted Jimmy Young.

No details on survivors was immediately available.…

Boxing / Sports

Floyd Mayweather vs. Mikuru Asakura date, start time, odds, schedule, price & card for 2022 exhibition boxing fight

After beating Don Moore in May, Floyd Mayweather is ready to get back in the ring. “Money” Mayweather will be competing in another exhibition bout on September 25 against MMA fighter Mikuru Asakura.

The fight will take place inside Saitama Super Arena in Japan. Mayweather has teamed up once again with RIZIN to make a Super RIZIN event, which is coupled with RIZIN 38.

Turning pro in 1996, Mayweather has won titles in the super-featherweight, lightweight, super-lightweight, welterweight, and light-middleweight divisions. A perfect 50-0, Mayweather, an excellent defensive fighter, initially retired in 2015 after beating Andre Berto. Returning in 2017, Mayweather defeated MMA star Conor McGregor via TKO. Since then, he has competed in numerous exhibition bouts. In 2018, he teamed with RIZIN for the first time and beat young kickboxing star Nenshin Nasukawa via TKO. Mayweather has also fought Logan Paul (in Miami) and former training partner Don Moore in non-scored bouts. Asakura, 29, made his pro-MMA debut in 2012. A RINGS featherweight and lightweight champion, Asakura has primarily fought for RIZIN. He is on a two-fight win streak with the promotion and has amassed a 16-3 record with one no-contest.…

Sports / Tennis

Serena Williams, Venus Williams walk off court in likely last doubles match together

Venus Williams and Serena Williams, a pair who first walked onto the national stage of professional tennis in the 1990s, have most likely walked off the court together for the last time.

The legendary sister act likely came to a close on Thursday night after the pair lost 7-6(5), 6-4, to the Czech team of Linda Noskova and Lucie Hradecka.

The first-round game marked, most likely, the final time Serena Williams and her older sister Venus Williams would play in a Grand Slam doubles tournament together. Serena Williams had announced that she was “evolving away” from tennis in a personal essay in Vogue in August.

Venus Williams had told reporters earlier in the week that the idea to play together was her sister’s.

“She’s the boss so I do whatever she tells me to do,” she had said while smiling. The two sisters have dominated the tennis world for nearly three decades, ending their go as a pair on the same court they had won their first U.S. Open Doubles title in 1999. The duo would go on to win 22 titles, 14 Grand Slams and three Olympic gold medals while playing together.…

Sports / Tennis

Czech tennis star addresses outrage over coach and father’s ‘beyond inappropriate’ butt pats

Czech tennis star Sara Bejlek has responded to outrage following her win against Britain’s Heather Watson at the 2022 US Open Grand Slam main draw.

On Monday (28 August), a video of Bejlek celebrating her win with her father and coach went viral.

In the clip, Bejlek is seen shaking hands with her opponent, before heading courtside to celebrate with her father Jaroslav Bejlek and her coach Jakub Kahoun.

As soon as the 16-year-old tennis star hugs both men, they appear to be patting her buttocks repeatedly.

In the clip, Bejlek’s father was also seen giving his daughter a peck on the lips.

Many Twitter users were unhappy with the video and found it to be “inappropriate”.

“There’s absolutely no reason to touch a 16 yo girl on her butt like that. It’s beyond inappropriate,” one person tweeted. “As the video progressed it got worse and worse.”

Bejlek has now responded to the outrage, saying: “I saw the video. It was a spontaneous reaction of the whole team. We rejoiced.

“It may certainly seem inconvenient and uncomfortable to some, but we have already discussed it with the team,” she stated. “It won’t happen again.”

Bejlek added: “Dad is my dad and always will be. And I’ve known the coach since I was eight years old. He tapes me, he massages me.

“If something similar happened in the Czech Republic, no one would deal with it. But since we are in America, everyone comments on it. But as I say, we talked and it won’t happen again.”

Bejlek has a career-high WTA ranking of 181 in singles.

She won her biggest singles title to date at the 2021 ITS Cup, where she defeated Argentina’s Paula Ormaechea in the final.…

Football / Sports

Manchester United beat Leicester City for third win in a row

Jadon Sancho scored the game’s lone goal as Manchester United beat Leicester City 1-0 on Thursday at the King Power Stadium for their third win in a row.

After a stuttering start to the season, Erik ten Hag’s side came into the match off the back of Premier League wins over Liverpool and Southampton and saw both captain Harry Maguire and Cristiano Ronaldo left out of the starting XI for the third game in a row.

United hit Leicester on a quick counter-attack midway through the first half as Marcus Rashford threaded the ball through the hosts’ backline to Sancho, who rounded goalkeeper Danny Ward with his first touch and rolled the ball into an empty net with his second to finish the move.

James Maddison went close for Leicester with a superb free kick which brought an excellent save from United’s David De Gea, but the home side struggled to create chances.

The opener seemed to boost the visitors’ confidence and they pushed forward throughout the remainder of the opening 45 minutes. No second goal came and United took their 1-0 lead into the break.

Ten Hag brought on summer arrival Casemiro for Anthony Elanga just before the hour mark as United clung to their lead and Leicester chased an equalizer.

Ronaldo, who did not leave the club before Thursday’s end to the transfer window, came on shortly after in place of Sancho and looked lively, setting up Rashford for a chance in the 82nd minute and bouncing an overhead kick past Ward’s far post minutes later.

“We need a good squad and we needed numbers,” Ten Hag said after the match. “There are a lot of games to cover. Once we have Cristiano Ronaldo and Casemiro getting fitter it will get better still — we need not only a team we need a squad.”

Leicester had a late chance to level but full-back James Justin blasted high and wide from a promising position on the right as United collected back-to-back away victories.

Man United saw out the remainder …

Football / Sports

Haaland hat trick leads rout vs Nottingham Forest

Manchester City turned on the class to hammer Nottingham Forest 6-0 as an Erling Haaland hat trick set them on their way.

Haaland scored a perfect hat trick in the opening 38 minutes (his second hat trick in the last four days) to set a new Premier League record for the most goals scored by a single player in their first five games in the competition.

Joao Cancelo scored a beauty and then Julian Alvarez scored his first two Premier League goals in the second half to add deserved gloss to the scoreline.

City have now gained 13 points from a possible 15 to start to the season and remain unbeaten, while Forest have lost three of their first five games and have four points.

What we learned from Manchester City vs Nottingham Forest

Haaland is not human: We all knew he was going to be brilliant and, on paper, he was exactly the striker City needed to finish off the boatload of chances they create every game. But nobody thought he would be this good, right? Back-to-back hat tricks is insane and so is Haaland. He has set a new PL record with nine goals in his first five games and he could have scored more. He is only 22 years old and he is set to play with Phil Foden for the next five years (at least). That is a scary thought for the rest of the Premier League. Yes, there will be tougher tests than Crystal Palace and Forest, but Haaland is doing exactly what is being asked of him.

Forest continue to struggle with fluidity: With so many new players coming in and out of the team, it was always going to be tough for Forest to find their rhythm early in the season. But even away at Man City, this was bleak. At a period in the first half they had just three percent of possession over a five minute period. Three. Steve Cooper knows his team won’t be judged by their performances …

Football / Sports

Man United confirm signing of winger Antony from Ajax

Manchester United have completed the signing of winger Antony from Ajax on a five-year deal, the club confirmed on Thursday.

Antony said: “This is an incredible moment in my career to be joining one of the most iconic clubs in the world. I’m thankful to everyone who has believed in me, especially my family, and all my coaches and team-mates, because I could not have got here without them.

United agreed a fee for the Brazil international on Monday, which sources told was worth an initial €95 million with another €5m in add-ons — making it the club’s second-most expensive transfer behind the then-world record €105m (£89.3m) deal to sign Paul Pogba from Juventus in 2016.

Antony’s move to Old Trafford means he will be reunited with his former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag, who has completed his fifth signing of the summer after deals for Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro.

Antony added: “Playing under Erik ten Hag at Ajax was perfect for me and my development. His style of football and coaching brings out the best in me, and I am excited by what he has told me about his plans and ambitions in Manchester.

“My time at Ajax was fantastic and I will always be grateful for the trust they put in me, but now I am ready for the next challenge, and I can’t wait to join my new team-mates and play my part in bringing success to Manchester United.”

The 22-year-old winger gives Ten Hag more options in attack after Anthony Martial sustained an Achilles’ tendon injury in United’s 2-1 victory against Liverpool last week.

Antony scored 25 goals in 82 games for Ajax after joining the Eredivisie side from Sao Paulo in 2020, winning two league titles and a KNVB Cup during his time there. He has made nine appearances for Brazil, scoring twice, and helped his country to an Olympic gold medal in Tokyo last year.

John Murtough, United’s football director, said: “Antony is one of the most exciting young talents …

Football / Sports

Chelsea sign Wesley Fofana on seven-year contract from Leicester City

Chelsea have completed the signing of Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana on a seven-year contract, the club announced on Wednesday.

On Saturday Chelsea agreed a fee in the region of £75 million for Fofana after Leicester demanded the same £80m fee they received for defender Harry Maguire when he moved to Manchester United in 2019.

Fofana, 21, joins Chelsea after spending the past two seasons at the King Power Stadium following his move from then-Ligue 1 club Saint-Etienne.

“The two last days have been really big days for me and I’m very happy,” said Fofana after completing the move.

“I trained this morning with the team and it’s a dream for me. I’m very excited to start playing games for the fans and the club.

“I’m here to win trophies — the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, everything. I came here to win and the club is built to win trophies so I’m here to continue that.”

Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly said the club is “delighted” to have Fofana joining their ranks.

“Wesley is a hugely promising defender who has already proven his quality in the Premier League at a young age,” Boehly said in an announcement.

“We are delighted we were able to bring one of Europe’s most exciting talents to Chelsea and further strengthen that area of our squad, both for this season and many more to come.”

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel will welcome the arrival of Fofana after seeing centre-backs Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen leave this summer and admitting the club granted Marcos Alonso’s request to leave Stamford Bridge before the end of the transfer window.…

Sports / Tennis

American Danielle Collins ousts Naomi Osaka in first round

American Danielle Collins ousted two-time U.S. Open winner Naomi Osaka on Tuesday night in the first round of the final Grand Slam tournament of the tennis season.

Collins, the No. 19 seed in the event, defeated Osaka 7-6 (6), 6-3 at Flushing Meadows, snapping a three-match losing streak against her. The match finished just after midnight. Collin only had one ace but put together six points in a row against Osaka and won three games in a row at one point.

“When you lose to someone three times, you get a lot of information on what you can do better,” Collins said, “With Naomi being the player that she is, she definitely whooped me the last time. I just had to learn from that and make adjustments and I think I did that.”

Osaka, who is also battling a bad back, had a 3-0 lead in the first set before Collins clawed her way back. Eleven of her winners came by using her backhand.

“I got lucky in some big moments,” she added. “But I was working really hard for the points. She wasn’t giving me a ton much free ones. Really overall I think it was a solid match, high level of tennis from both of us.”

saka attributed her loss to overthinking on the court.

“I’m the type of person that thinks a lot, to the point where I overthink. Sometimes when I play matches, I have to tell myself to stop thinking, just go more on instinct,” she said. “I feel like I just have to chill a little bit, because there’s a lot of like random chaos in my head right now.”

Collins only has two WTA singles titles in her career and has never made it further than the third round of the U.S. Open. She was runner-up at the Australian Open in January.…

Sports / Tennis

The hidden meanings behind Serena William’s US Open 2022 outfit

As Serena Williams prepares to retire from tennis this year, her all-black outfit for her first match at the 2022 US Open was full of hidden meanings.

The tennis star announced earlier this month that the “countdown has begun” on her 27-year career, as she plans to “grow her family”.

In an essay for US Vogue, Williams, 40, wrote: “I’m not looking for some ceremonial, final on-court moment. I’m terrible at goodbyes, the world’s worst.

“It’s the hardest thing that I could ever imagine. I hate it. I hate that I have to be at this crossroads,” she added.

The 2022 US Open began on Monday 29 August in Flushing, New York City, with Williams playing and winning her first match against Danka Kovinic.

The 23-time Grand Slam winner wore a jet-black dress inspired by competition outfits worn by figure skaters, created in collaboration with Nike.

The dress featured a six-layered skirt, representing Williams’ six previous title wins in Flushing.

The jet-black bodice was encrusted with crystals that reflected light, “alluding to the night sky at the tournament”.

She also donned custom diamond-encrusted Nike trainers featuring her initials and custom gold shoelace tags, known as deubres.

According to Nike, the deubres feature 400 hand-set diamonds in black ceramic and were created in collaborations with the tennis star’s own jewelry brand, Serena Williams Jewelry.

“Historically, Serena’s love for, and training in, fashion has informed breathtaking, defining looks. For her latest outfit for Flushing, Serena took control, providing the full vision and dialing the details for a thrilling design created to make her feel comfortable and confident,” Nike said in a statement.

Williams’ four-year-old daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr, wore a mini version of her mother’s outfit.

Olympia also wore white beads on her braided hair, just like Williams did when she made her tennis debut at the 1999 US Open.

In her US Vogue essay, Williams reflected on how difficult it was to come to the decision to retire, adding that she would not have to do so if she …

Football / Sports

Romeo Lavia helps Southampton beat Chelsea 2-1

Lavia left Premier League champions Manchester City in search of regular first-team football in the summer and made the move to the south coast for a fee of £11million

The Belgian grabbed his first senior goal on Tuesday night as Saints came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 at St Mary’s, levelling the match shortly after Raheem Sterling’s opener in the first-half.

Adam Armstrong then put Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side the lead in first-half stoppage time and Saints held on to record their first home win of the season.

“He’s a player that is just so calm, so composed,” Benali said prior to kick-off. “He was bringing balls down in his own 18-yard box against Tottenham and picking passes out, he’s got that in his locker as well.

He’s got a bit of an engine around the middle of the park, not necessarily breaking forward too much but when he gets the ball at his feet, he can find those passes and break through the lines.

“He’s been really really impressive in the few games that we’ve seen him.”

Southampton fans are already over the moon with how Lavia has started his Southampton career but will now face a period of time without him in the side following his substitution due to injury on the hour mark vs Chelsea.

The 18-year-old had to be replaced by Joe Aribo for the final 30 minutes, with Hasenhuttl confirming after the final whistle that Lavia was now expected to miss a few weeks with injury.…

Sports / Tennis

Serena Williams appears to have hired ex-Grand Slam champ as coach ahead of US Open

Serena Williams has seemingly added Rennae Stubbs to her team for the final tournament of her career. This week, Williams has been spotted accompanied by former six-time Grand Slam champion Stubbs. On Tuesday, Williams practiced with Maria Sakkari.

During the practice, journalists spotted that Williams was accompanied by Stubbs, a former top-ranked player in the doubles competition. Williams, 40, is preparing for the final tournament of her career at the US Open.

Stubbs was ecstatic after Williams announced her return

Williams was out for 12 months before announcing that she would return to action at Wimbledon. After hearing the Williams news, Stubbs lost it as she was thrilled to see the 23-time Grand Slam champion returning to action.

“I am SO happy to hear Serena Williams is coming back!!! Never want to see a great champion limp off a court in tears and never return!!!! Let’s go SW!!!! #comeback,” Stubbs wrote on Twitter after Williams announced she would compete at Wimbledon.

Two weeks ago – in an article published for Vogue * Williams revealed her plans to retire from professional tennis at the US Open. In the article, Williams refused to use the term “retirement” and instead said that she’s “evolving away from tennis.

After reading Williams’ retirement message, Stubbs felt it was a “real” and “honest” message from the 23-time Grand Slam champion. “This is as real and honest and beautiful an article as I’ve ever read.

I love you for always being you, thanks for all of it, Serena Williams.⁩ Farewell to Tennis—In Her Own Words,” Stubbs wrote on Twitter. Williams captured the first of her 23 Grand Slams at the 1999 US Open. Williams picking the US Open as the tournament where she wants to retire didn’t really come as a surprise.

Williams is just 1-3 since returning to action at Wimbledon and it will be interesting to see how she will do at the US Open.…

Football / Sports

Harry Kane double seals victory over Nottingham Forest

Harry Kane was at the double for Tottenham Hotspur, who held off constant Nottingham Forest pressure to take all three points on Sunday afternoon.

Antonio Conte’s men produced a relatively poor performance in the East Midlands, with a lack of urgency seeing a spirited Forest dominate possession and carve out some presentable chances. But the hosts were simply unable to finish, and endured two key periods of looking susceptible on the break.

In both of those spells, Spurs capitalized. Dejan Kulusevski, one of Spurs’ few bright sparks, broke through the heart of the Forest backline before teeing up Kane for the early opener. With nine minutes left on the clock, the North Londoners killed the game with Richarlison’s superb outside-of-the-boot cross finding Kane in space at the back post, for the England captain to stoop down and head in.

Kane was making amends for earlier spurning a chance of a second goal, with his second-half penalty having been saved by Dean Henderson. The former Manchester United goalkeeper stepped up with a big spot-kick save for the second game here in succession.

Unlike against West Ham United, it wasn’t enough, though. It leaves Forest with four points from as many games, while Spurs rise to 10, level with reigning champions Manchester City and a couple behind leaders Arsenal.

Plenty of promise for Forest – but a focal point is needed

The transfer fee of Morgan Gibbs-White, potentially rising to £42.5m, raised plenty of eyebrows over the last fortnight – but there is no doubt he is the man for this Forest side.

The versatile attacker was brilliant against Spurs, particularly in the first half, causing problems for all three opposing centre-backs as well as Ivan Perisic. He spotted balls nobody else did, and generally looked a level above many of his teammates – which was a feat in itself, after such a strong team performance.

He dovetailed well with both Jesse Lingard and Brennan Johnson, with the trio interchanging positions throughout. They were slightly more weighted towards the right flank, almost …

Football / Sports

Newcastle signs Alexander Isak for $70M

Newcastle made its most eye-catching move in the transfer market since coming under Saudi ownership, setting a club record to sign Sweden striker Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad for a reported 70 million euros ($70 million) on Friday.

It takes the spending of the richest club owners in world soccer to more than $130 million in the summer transfer window, though Newcastle still isn’t targeting the game’s top players despite its wealth.

The 22-year-old Isak burst into global consciousness through some impressive displays for Sweden at the European Championship last year. He is widely regarded as a potential star of the future thanks to his pace and dribbling ability but has a modest scoring record, having netted 44 goals in 132 appearances for Sociedad and nine in 37 for Sweden.

Isak joined Borussia Dortmund at the age of 17 and was sold two years later in 2019 after failing to break into the team.

“He is an outstanding talent who is capable of making a big contribution to the team,” Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said.

“He is technically very good, with a mix of attributes that will complement us, but he is also at a great age to grow with this club.”

Netherlands defender Sven Botman, England goalkeeper Nick Pope and left back Matt Targett have already joined Newcastle in this transfer window.

Joelinton was Newcastle’s previous record signing after joining for 35 million pounds (then $44 million) in 2019.

That was two years before the buyout by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund that has moved the club from northeast England into a different realm.

Isak will compete with Callum Wilson and Chris Wood for a place up front. Wilson is facing time out of the team after getting hurt in the 3-3 draw against Manchester City on Sunday.

“I’m delighted to have it done,” Isak said of his move. “It was a big, big decision for me but it is a decision I am really happy with.”

He added: “You always want to go into a team and know …

Football / Sports

Champions League group stage draw: Tough tests for Liverpool and Man City as Bayern and Barcelona meet again

The group stage draw threw up some stellar ties, with Bayern in a group with Barcelona and Inter, while Liverpool and Manchester City were given tough starts to their campaigns.

Liverpool and Manchester City face challenging autumns while Bayern will look to continue their recent dominance over Barcelona in a mouth-watering section that also includes Inter after the draw for the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League group stage was made in Istanbul, Türkiye on Thursday.

Champions League group stage draw

Group A: Ajax, Liverpool, Napoli, Rangers
Group B: Porto, Atlético, Leverkusen, Club Brugge
Group C: Bayern, Barcelona, Inter, Viktoria Plzeň
Group D: Frankfurt, Tottenham, Sporting CP, Marseille
Group E: AC Milan, Chelsea, Salzburg, Dinamo
Group F: Real Madrid, Leipzig, Shakhtar, Celtic
Group G: Man. City, Sevilla, Dortmund, Copenhagen
Group H: Paris, Juventus, Benfica, Maccabi Haifa

Teams were divided into four pots based on their UEFA club coefficients. One team from each of the pots was then drawn into the eight groups, A–H. There were a few caveats: no team could play a club from their own association, and sides from the same association were paired to ensure they play on different nights.

 …

Football / Sports

Blame FIFA, not NFF, for Falconets ordeal in Istanbul

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), yesterday, absolved itself and the Federal Government from blame over the ordeal suffered by the women U-20 national team, Falconets, who were forced to sleep on the bare floor of Istanbul Airport after missing their connecting flight from Turkey to Abuja.

The Falconets, who were eliminated from the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women World Cup by The Netherlands at the weekend, were supposed to return to Nigeria on a Turkish Airline flight from Costa Rica on Monday.

The players’ ordeal came to the fore, yesterday when pictures of the girls lying on benches and on the floor at the Istanbul Airport flooded social media. Earlier, sources close to the team had accused the NFF of failing to provide basic kits with the Falconets needed for the competition, saying the players were given only three sets of green home wear and two sets of white away wear for a competition that would last three weeks.

He said this forced the players to wash their jerseys by hand after every game and also stopped them from exchanging jerseys with their opponents after each game.

The source added that the girls did not get the official footwear and were also forced to buy their own footwear despite the fact that the Federation has an existing kitting deal with an international sportswear manufacturing outfit. Reacting to the incident, yesterday, the NFF in a statement by its Media Director, Ademola Olajire, explained that a number of factors, including the inability to secure transit visas for players and officials of the team at the Istanbul Airport, led to the team having to stay 24 hours at the airport in Turkey.

“The NFF did not book the team’s tickets from Costa Rica; FIFA did. FIFA also did not envisage the hitches that saw the team delayed for more than three hours in Bogota, and another one hour in Panama. By the time the team got to Istanbul, the flight to Abuja had left. “Our officials pleaded for compassionate transit visas so as to …

Boxing / News / Sports

Jake Paul Teases Fight Contract: ‘Opponent Is Inked. October Is Mine’

Jake Paul appears to have settled on a date for his return to the boxing ring, teasing fans on social media with a tweet indicating he will be back in October:

Paul had been scheduled to fight at Madison Square Garden on Aug. 6, but his opponents dropped out for various reasons. Tommy Fury, the brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, was barred from entering the country. Hasim Rahman Jr. was inserted as Fury’s replacement, but that fight fell through over a weight dispute.

Paul declared on Saturday that his next opponent “will be a pro boxer and of course he will have a winning record just like Tommy and Ramen did before they pulled out.” The 25-year-old hasn’t fought since his December knockout victory over former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley, which improved his boxing record to 5-0.…

Sports / Tennis

Angelique Kerber Reveals She’s Expecting Her First Baby, Withdraws from US Open

Angelique Kerber is pressing pause on her tennis career as she prepares to welcome her first baby.

The German tennis pro, 34, announced on social media Wednesday that she is pregnant, expecting her first baby. Along with the exciting pregnancy news, she shared that she will be missing the upcoming US Open and is taking a “break from traveling the globe as a tennis player.”

“I really wanted to play the @usopen but eventually I decided that two against one just isn’t a fair competition 👼🫶🏻🍼❤️,” she wrote, hinting at her pregnancy with baby-related emojis. “For the next months, I will take a break from traveling the globe as a tennis player but then again, I believe it’s for the best possible reason 🥰🐣! I will miss all of you.”

“New York has often been a turning point in my career and it feels like this year will be no different in some way! From restarting my career in 2011 to winning the title in 2016 and becoming #1 in the world… the @usopen have a special place in my heart and I wish I could have said goodbye to all of you on court before not being around on tour for a while,” she continued.

“Being a professional athlete means everything to me but I’m grateful for the new path I’m heading to,” Kerber added. “To be honest, I’m nervous and excited at the same time. Thanks for your continued support – it means everything to me ❤️🙏🏼❤️ #TeamAngie”

Several fellow tennis pros congratulated Kerber on her happy news in the comments of her post.

Polish tennis star Urszula Radwanska wrote, “Team Angie is getting bigger😁🥰👼 Congrats!!!😍,” while Serbian tennis pro Ana Ivanović added, “So happy for you 🥰 You’re going to be a great mom 🤰🏼🎾 Sending lots of love and support 💖.”

Retired tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, who is also a new mom, left a string of heart emojis on the post.

Kerber is currently ranked No. 52 in the world and won the US Open in …

Football / Sports

Marcus Rashford kickstarts Erik ten Hag era against listless Reds

Manchester United marked the belated launch of a new era under Erik Ten Hag as they deservedly beat rivals Liverpool 2-1 at Old Trafford.

Having lost to Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford in their opening two games of the new campaign, the Red Devils looked transformed as they outfought and out-thought their arch-rivals to earn their first win under the Dutchman.

Liverpool had ran out 5-0 victors at this stadium en route to falling agonizingly short of a quadruple trophy success last season, but they were well short of those standards in losing out this time around.

Goals in either half from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford gave the revitalized hosts an advantage that they refused to surrender even after Mohamed Salah’s late header set up a potentially grandstand finish.

And that has left Jurgen Klopp searching for answers to a poor start that has seen his side return two draws and a defeat.

Ten Hag’s tough love pays off

Ten Hag’s decision to force his players to take part in a running session the day after their defeat to Brentford was questioned in some quarters.

But the Dutchman’s hardline approach appeared to pay off on Monday evening as his side outfought opponents who are renowned for their hard-working approach under Jurgen Klopp.

By fulltime against Liverpool at Old Trafford, United had run 18.3km more than they had across the 90 minutes in west London.

And that had played no small part in them forcing a team packed with quality into constant mistakes — a key facet of the victory.

Liverpool midfield question persists

If there is one area of the pitch Liverpool fans would most like to see reinforced before the end of the transfer window, it is undoubtedly midfield. The argument for bringing in a fresh face in the center of the park in the next few days was only strengthened by events at Old Trafford.

Admittedly, youngster Harvey Elliott performed well, but he was a rare bright spot in an engine room that largely failed to …

Athletics / News / Sports

Tobi Amusan Wins Gold In Women 100m Hurdles Final

Nigerian female athlete, Tobi Amusan has won a gold medal in the women’s 100 meters hurdles final at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK.

Amusan set the new record after completing the race within 12.30 seconds to beat the Commonwealth game world record.

Amusan last month broke her first ever worldwide title and medal for the 100 meters hurdle in the semi-finals.

With the present success, Amusan is the first Nigerian to win a gold medal in the Athletics World Championships.…