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Surprise flyweight title challenger Steve Erceg exceeded expectations but left Rio empty-handed and heartbroken after going the championship distance against a savvy Alexandre Pantoja, who had to overcome adversity and some shaky moments en route to making a second title defence on his return to Brazil.
Continue reading “UFC 301: Pantoja tested but Erceg’s inexperience costly in flyweight title fight”
Things got off to a disastrous start. Yet they ended with a familiar finish as undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue responded well to early adversity – being caught clean and dropped for the first time in his career – to outsmart, bait and overwhelm two-division titlist Luis Nery through excellent punch placement on a memorable evening in Japan’s Tokyo Dome.
Continue reading “Undisputed 122lb king Inoue rallies after career-first knockdown, stops Nery in six”
Canelo Alvarez marked Cinco de Mayo weekend with his best showing for a while – vulnerabilities still lingering – logging an impressive decision win over unbeaten contender Jaime Munguia to make the fourth defence of his undisputed super-middleweight world titles, before insisting he remains the sport’s top dog as questions over a decline have persisted after recent displays.
Continue reading “Canelo drops Munguia, retains undisputed 168lb world titles again with UD12 victory”
Anthony Edwards picked up where he left off in Phoenix and posted a new playoff career-high 43 points, inspiring the Minnesota Timberwolves to snatch a gritty road win over the defending champion Denver Nuggets. Defensive length and a purposeful collective start helped as Chris Finch’s side begun what promises to be an intriguing playoff series with a morale-boosting victory.
Continue reading “Edwards’ 43-point night sees Minnesota draw first blood in frantic Denver series”
A month shy of five full years since their first fight, a competitive clash over ten rounds on Dillian Whyte’s undercard, Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe headline their own show at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park stadium on June 15. Their paths have veered vastly differently since that night in south London, but now they do battle again – one a defending world champion with Stateside ambitions, the other expects to prove he’s been the better man all along.
Continue reading “CBS-Riakporhe 2: June 15 promises jeopardy and much-needed clarity, in rematch for WBO world cruiserweight title”
Former middleweight champion-turned-analyst Michael Bisping made his feelings clear, as have many of the regular UFC watching public as far as the stakes for this weekend’s flyweight title fight headliner in Rio. Alexandre Pantoja should win emphatically, against a plucky contender given an unlikely shot of a lfietime to win gold just four bouts into his promotional stint. Will he? Continue reading “UFC 301: Bisping favours Pantoja to topple Erceg, Moicano questions low fight buzz”
In what has become an increasingly unpredictable week of Masters 1000 play on the men’s side, Taylor Fritz will next face a familiar foe in old junior rival Andrey Rublev in Friday’s day session after their contrasting victories over Francisco Cerundolo and Carlos Alcaraz respectively at the quarter-final stage.
Continue reading “Madrid: Fritz finds his groove, reaches 250 career wins as old foe Rublev next in semis”
Having vacated his domestic honours last month, Isaac Chamberlain faces a stern test as he plots his way to world-level contention against European champion Michal Cieslak on the June 15 undercard – where he’ll undoubtedly have one eye on the main event between former foe Chris Billam-Smith and Richard Riakporhe, who beat the WBO world champion five years ago. Continue reading “CBS-Riakporhe 2: Undercard presser as Isaac Chamberlain, Ben Whittaker return”
Vinicius Junior drew first blood, then had the final say from twelve yards as Real Madrid were predictably resilient in Munich to keep their Champions League semi-final clash with Bayern finely poised at two goals apiece before next week’s return leg at the Bernabeu. That was despite being second best for large periods during an action-packed clash between two giants on Tuesday. Continue reading “Bayern 2-2 Real: Vinicius gives visitors vigour in pulsating UCL semi-final first leg”
Mirra Andreeva celebrated her 17th birthday on Madrid clay by earning a quarter-final berth at a Masters 1000 tournament for the first time, backing up her second career top-10 win – over Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova – with a similarly gritty victory to knock out Jasmine Paolini 24 hours later. Continue reading “Birthday girl Andreeva’s maturity in Madrid a welcome sign for years to come”
There were nervy moments late on but Jalen Brunson relished the responsibility, reeling off a new career playoff-high 47 points alongside 10 assists to power the Knicks into a hard-fought road win over Philadelphia, taking a commanding series lead in their first-round matchup with the 76ers. Continue reading “Knicks 97-92 Sixers: Brunson’s playoff high 47 helps New York take big series lead”
Many expected Ryan Garcia would get outclassed in a surprise world title shot at 140lbs before the 25-year-old missed weight, leading to more controversy and a financial penalty as the ugly build-up intensified before his duel against amateur foe Devin Haney last weekend. He dropped the two-division champion three times en route to a stunning upset win though, so what’s next for both? Continue reading “A week on: Ryan Garcia’s stunning MD12 upset win over Devin Haney, what’s next?”
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