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Baumgardner defends WBA, WBO and IBF belts at 130lb American headlines Jake Paul-promoted card at Garden Reach out to Bryan on Bluesky or by email Hello and welcome to tonight’s unified 130lb title fight between Alycia Baumgardner and Bo Mi Re Shin. We’re ringside at the Theater at Madison Square Garden for what has been billed as both a title defense and a statement of intent for one of women’s …

Tana Umaga calls for more support for union in Samoa and Tonga Super Rugby club’s future in grave doubt beyond this season All Blacks great and Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga fears the region’s talent will gravitate to league and derail the Tongan and Samoan Test sides without a Super Rugby presence. The Super Rugby Pacific franchise is set to be disbanded after ownership on Wednesday confirmed …

Scotland’s tournament was overshadowed by off-field uncertainty but, says former international Beth Blacklock, the future is looking brighter “There were players who were definitely struggling,” says the former Scotland international Beth Blacklock of the contract uncertainty that surrounded the squad before their run to the 2025 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals . In pre-World Cup camps talks were …

The former UConn star’s draft night should have been about her talent. Instead, speculation shows how the league is still being viewed through the wrong lens Sign up for our WNBA 30 newsletter For the first time in a while, there was no consensus on who would go No 1 overall in the WNBA draft this year. When the Dallas Wings did make their pick, they chose Azzi Fudd , who had distinguished hersel…

Real Sociedad’s coach’s career reveals plenty about the man leading the proud Basque club to only their fourth Copa del Rey final There is a moment, about halfway through a long conversation about an extraordinary journey from New Jersey to Seville, when Pellegrino Matarazzo stops mid-sentence. “I keep using that word: ‘special’. I’m realising now that my English is terrible,” Real Sociedad’s coa…

Barcelona increasingly unlikely to make loan permanent United keen to sell forward but few can afford wages Marcus Rashford could have a summer of transfer limbo in store despite Michael Carrick admitting the door is not completely closed on the forward playing for Manchester United again. Rashford is currently on loan at Barcelona but it is becoming increasingly unlikely the move will be made pe…

Coventry City are finally back in the big time for the first time in a generation. After 25 years away, a period during which the club changed stadiums, hit financial rock bottom and plummeted to the depths of League Two as recently as 2017-18, manager Frank Lampard has led them to the promised land, with this 1-1 draw sealing a famous promotion. The Sky Blues struggled to find a way past Blackbu…

The Blues’ star talks candidly about treatment-room frustrations, transfer talk and how he’s learned to love living down south There are two sides to Cole Palmer. There is the shy character who can fool you into thinking he has nothing much to say for himself. On the other hand there’s the artist with the ball at his feet. The player with the “Ice Cold” celebration copied by kids in playgrounds e…

Neither former world champion was at obligatory event as two British prospects look forward to moment in spotlight If there were any doubt remaining that Ronnie O’Sullivan retains a gravitational pull on the world of snooker, few moments hammered home the point better than Friday’s launch of this year’s World Snooker Championship when the seven-time champion became the story without even being th…

Exclusive: The club, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, received the grant without a contract or final state aid assessment in place Wrexham AFC, the football club part-owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, was given a £3.8m government grant without a contract or a finished state aid assessment in place, raising questions over whether the award was lawful. The club …

Talks held with German over replacing Andoni Iraola Rose out of work so can start planning immediately Bournemouth are set to appoint Marco Rose as their new manager after successful talks with the German. Rose has emerged as the favoured candidate to replace Andoni Iraola, who is stepping down when his contract expires this summer, and an agreement in principle is in place for him to take over. …

Mercedes driver doesn’t want to lose four-time champion ‘Natural’ for lack of competitiveness to start taking its toll George Russell has said he would understand if Max Verstappen chose to leave Formula One after the four-time champion recently cast doubt on his future in the sport because of his dissatisfaction with current regulations. Russell, who is currently second behind his Mercedes teamm…

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Australian guard has endured a mixed campaign but will be one of the Hawks’ main protagonists in a marquee match-up against the New York Knicks The so-called “Great Barrier Thief” will be unleashed on to one of basketball’s most storied stages this weekend, as Australian Dyson Daniels storms into an NBA playoff battle against Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The Atl…

The Premier League has history when it comes to clashes between the two teams fighting to become champions Kevin Keegan’s swashbuckling Newcastle looked set to be runaway champions, but from 12 points clear they were slowly reeled in by Alex Ferguson’s ruthless Manchester United. When the two title-chasers met at St James’ Park in early March, Keegan’s previously irresistible attack was kept out …