On this day in 1967, at the huge Astrodome in Houston, Texas, world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali engaged in one of the more controversial fights of his illustrious career. The performance Ali gave in this fight, against reigning WBA champ Ernie Terrell of Chicago, gave us more than a glimpse of his ability to be both ruthless and punishing.

Ali was the world ruler, no-one disputed that, despite the WBA strap Terrell held. Yet the capable Terrell – who held good wins over Cleveland Williams (a revenge win, coming after Ernie had been stopped for the only time in his career by Williams in a previous encounter), Zora Folley, Eddie Machen and George Chuvalo – disputed the fact that Ali was so great. Terrell, a tall fighter with a fine left jab, truly felt he would beat the man he continued to call Cassius Clay, Ali’s “slave” name.

During the build-up to the fight, Terrell so angered Ali that the 25-year-old, at his peak champion, completely lost his cool. Refusing to refer to Ali by his still-recently acquired Muslim name, Terrell was promised a sustained beating by Ali. And, boy, did ‘The Greatest’ keep his promise!

Terrell, 39-4 and probably at his own peak at age 28, tried as best as he could, but almost from the very beginning it was obvious that he, like every other heavyweight of the day, had nowhere near enough speed to be able to deal with Ali. But Ali wasn’t content with merely out-classing Ernie; he wanted to humiliate him for the name slur. Ali dropped his hands and left them dangling at his sides for long periods (“Oh, the chances he takes!” said British commentator Harry Carpenter. “Clay is just using his feet to stay out of range.”) and he also lashed out with stinging blows. At other times, while literally daring Terrell to hit him, Ali bellowed out “What’s my name?!” Ernie never uttered a word in reply, later claiming he never even heard anything that Ali was saying to him. “I was concentrating on surviving,” Terrell said.

Terrell was game, but he was falling hopelessly behind on the judges’ score-cards. Also of a serious concern for “The Octopus,” as Ali dubbed his latest challenger, was the damage Ali had inflicted on his left eye. Swelling up and closing fast, Ernie’s eye had a fractured bone underneath and it was later revealed he had a damaged retina. Later, the loser claimed Ali had purposely rubbed his eye along the top rope as the two had been in a clinch. Ali vehemently denied this claim (“I’m a clean fighter,” he insisted), but Terrell felt he would have won had his eye not been so horrifically damaged.

Due to a combination of Terrell’s bravery and Ali’s willingness to prolong the beating of his over-matched adversary, the fight dragged on for all 15-rounds. Maybe Ali could have closed the show and got the stoppage, who knows for sure? In any case, Ali won by a lopsided margin on each of the three cards – by a whopping 148-133 score in the case of one judge. However, Ali was given no rave reviews by the experts after the fight.

Instead, almost every single writer chose to focus on the mean-spirited side of Ali’s nature. Condemned as a cruel bully, just as he was two years ago when he brutalised and tormented former champ Floyd Patterson, another fighter who insisted on calling Ali Clay, Ali was all-but hated by the media. No-one could deny his boxing brilliance, but the champion’s taunting and “carrying” of an opponent was seen as being in terribly bad taste. For sure, the Ali of the late 1960s was a million miles from the beloved global hero he would become in the mid-70s and still is today.

Now 28-0 and with seemingly no-one out there capable of defeating him (Ali never ducked anybody, taking on all comers at a rapid rate, correctly sensing as he was that his days of freedom were numbered), Ali may have been disliked at home but he was popular in Europe and in other places. But after just one more fight (a stoppage win over Folley that March), Ali fell foul of the United States government. Stripped of his title and his passport for refusing to be inducted into the armed forces, Ali was made redundant, unable to fight for a living. The government had done what no fighter was even close to doing: defeating him.

Millions of Americans, the same ones who were appalled by Ali’s showing against Terrell, failed to have a shred of sympathy for the former champion. It would be three years and seven months before Ali would have his license reinstated by the supreme Court. By then, Ali’s peak years had passed, and never again would we see the blinding speed he had against Terrell.

That Ali had gone for good.

Mavs may part ways with new trade return to reunite with NBA championship teammate originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Dallas Mavericks traded Anthony Davis away before the NBA trade deadline, and one of the pieces they got in return from the Washington Wizards was Khris Middleton.

Advertisement

There’s no guarantee that Middleton will play any games for the Mavs, though.

The Athletic’s John Hollinger listed Middleton as a buyout candidate after the trade deadline.

“The key to the salary match in the Washington Wizards’ trade for Anthony Davis, Middleton’s level of play has dropped considerably since his glory days in Milwaukee,” Hollinger writes. “The Mavs should tank the rest of the way and don’t need him.”

MORE: Giannis Antetokounmpo’s legacy doesn’t change despite messy trade rumors

Then, Hollinger adds a fun line for Bucks fans.

“One wonders about a Middleton/Bucks reunion,” Hollinger writes.

Advertisement

Middleton was still playing quality basketball at times for the Wizards.

He also has a key superpower: He can help close out games.

Middleton may not be as high-usage a player as he once was, but he can still get off his shot in any situation, get to the foul line and feed accurate passes to others.

MORE: ‘Worst shooting form of all time’ draws comparisons to Lonzo Ball, Shawn Marion

The Wizards occasionally relied on Middleton as a focal point down the stretch of close games.

If the Mavericks do release him, it’ll be interesting to see what happens next.

If Middleton wants to go to the playoffs this year, he wouldn’t join the Bucks.

Advertisement

But if he just wants those Giannis Antetokounmpo teammate vibes once again, that could be in play.

More NBA news:

Former undisputed middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins has likened one reigning world champion to the legendary Sugar Ray Leonard, due to his fighting style and composure whilst in the ring.

Sugar Ray became the second fighter in boxing history to have held world titles in five separate weight divisions when he knocked out Don Lalonde to get his hands on the WBC light-heavyweight title in 1988.

However, it is his successes against his fellow ‘Four Kings’ that sees Leonard held in such high regard, having defeated each of Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler in legendary triumphs that will be spoken about for generations to come.

Last weekend, Shakur Stevenson soundly beat Teofimo Lopez to become a four-weight champion and, speaking to FightHype.com ahead of that fight, Hopkins compared the contest to Leonard-Duran, before explaining why he believes Stevenson’s style is similar to Leonard’s.

“I’d say this is more like a Duran and Leonard.”

“Leonard had more weapons of urban slick speed, bravado, come on man.

“If you know about Leonard, if you know about his history and you know about his style, he confused you, he made you miss and he didn’t even run, he was actually there.

“He is slick, he is super slick, he is grease. So when you talk about those type of styles and that type of ring generalship, for this era, 2026, that is Shakur Stevenson.”

Advertisement

Following his tremendous triumph over Lopez, Stevenson has been stripped of his WBC lightweight world title. The Newark southpaw may now remain at super-lightweight to defend his new WBO crown, or deliver on a move up to welterweight to face the likes of Conor Benn or Devin Haney.

Whatever he does, there is no question that he deserves to be ranked as one of the very best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

Are Fast Withdrawals Important for Irish Gamblers?

When you’ve just hit a winning streak at your favourite online casino or correctly predicted the outcome of a Premier League match, there’s a particular feeling that comes with clicking that withdrawal button. However, what happens next can make or break their entire experience with a betting site as money is rarely paid out instantly.

The Psychology Behind Waiting for Your Winnings

Money you’ve won feels different from money you’ve deposited. This is the case even if the profit is just a few Euros. There’s an anticipation, a sense of validation that comes with seeing those funds actually land in your account.

When a casino or sportsbook processes withdrawals quickly—within hours rather than days—it reinforces trust in a way that no marketing message ever could. As a result, many prefer Irish fast withdrawal casinos that payout within 24 hours over those that take a day to complete the transaction.

For recreational players who treat gambling as entertainment, a few days’ wait might seem inconsequential. But consider someone who gambles more regularly, perhaps placing bets several times a week. Slow withdrawals create a peculiar problem: their funds become trapped in a limbo between a gambling account and a bank account.

This affects practical decision-making. If you’ve won €200 on Monday but won’t see it until Friday, you’re more likely to either leave it in your gambling account (where it remains at risk) or deposit more money for other expenses. Neither scenario is ideal for someone trying to maintain control over their gambling budget.

Payment methods matter enormously here. Traditional bank transfers through Irish banks can take 3-5 working days. E-wallets like Revolut, PayPal, or Neteller often process within hours.

Irish banks themselves sometimes add another layer of delay. Some banks flag gambling transactions for additional scrutiny, particularly larger amounts, which can extend processing times regardless of how quickly the betting site acts.

The Regulatory Landscape in Ireland

Ireland’s gambling regulation has historically been fragmented, operating under legislation dating back to the 1950s. While the upcoming Gambling Regulation Bill promises to modernise and tighten regulations, offshore sites licensed in jurisdictions like Malta, Gibraltar, or Curaçao can currently operate freely in the market. As a result, there are no uniform rules regarding withdrawals.

These licensing authorities have different standards for withdrawal processing. The Malta Gaming Authority, for instance, requires licensees to process withdrawals “without undue delay,” though the exact timeframe remains somewhat vague. While this ambiguity means withdrawal speeds vary dramatically between operators, MGA-licensed casinos still have tighter restrictions than other regulators, with other regulators offering poorer conditions.

Many include mandatory pending periods of 1-3 days, where the funds just sit there before anything happens. During this time, it’s possible to cancel the withdrawal and keep on playing. This practice is not just frustrating for players, but also bad for responsible gambling reasons. As a result, national gambling regulations like the UK Gambling Commission have tightened the rules relating to withdrawals and have made it illegal to purposely hold up withdrawals. It’s likely that the new Irish gambling regulators will include similar rulings.

The Verification Paradox

Slow withdrawals aren’t always at the fault of the casino. The same security measures that protect Irish players from fraud are often responsible for withdrawal delays.

First-time withdrawals typically require identity verification before they are processed. A copy of your passport or driver’s license, proof of address, and sometimes even a photo/screenshot of your payment method is required. This process exists to prevent money laundering and is one of several mandatory Anti Money Laundering (AML) processes a casino must go through. Additionally, it aims to confirm you are who you claim to be and to ensure you’re of legal gambling age.

But it can create frustration when you’ve just won and must wait 24-48 hours for a manual review before accessing your money. Many inexperienced players are often surprised by this requirement and will not comply, as they believe it’s some type of fraud.

Experienced players know to complete verification immediately upon registration to prevent this from delaying future withdrawals. This forward-thinking approach eliminates delays later, but most people don’t think that far ahead.

What Irish Players Actually Prioritise

An older survey from 2015 reveals that ease of use and perceived trustworthiness are important factors for Irish gamblers when picking a casino site. While it doesn’t specify fast withdrawals as a factor specifically, it’s likely included in the “ease of use” category.

The withdrawal speed ranks high in importance, but it’s rarely the single deciding factor when choosing an online casino. It exists alongside other concerns—game variety, welcome bonuses, customer service quality, and mobile app functionality.

However, withdrawal speed becomes disproportionately important when something goes wrong. A player who’s had a smooth experience with quick payouts might barely mention it. A player who’s waited ten days for a withdrawal will tell everyone they know, leave negative reviews, and likely never return to that site. In an industry where players are literally trusting operators with their money, that signal matters more than almost anything else.

LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com

A major WWE Superstar pushed to win at the Royal Rumble but still came up short at the PLE this past Saturday night in Saudi Arabia. The popular star competed in a major title match at Royal Rumble 2026.

Sami Zayn won a Fatal 4-Way match last month to become the number one contender for the Undisputed WWE Championship. He challenged Drew McIntyre for the title at the Royal Rumble but was unable to defeat The Scottish Warrior.

According to a new report from the Wrestling Observer, Zayn was pushing to defeat McIntyre and capture the title at Royal Rumble, but it was not meant to be. McIntyre defeated Zayn at the PLE via pinfall after connecting with the Claymore.

Following his victory over Zayn, McIntyre interfered in the Men’s Royal Rumble match later in the show to eliminate Cody Rhodes. Roman Reigns won the Men’s Royal Rumble and will be challenging CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship at WWE WrestleMania 42.

Jackie Redmond reveals how Sami Zayn almost ruined their WWE interview

Backstage interviewer Jackie Redmond recently shared how Sami Zayn almost ruined a segment they had together.

Speaking with Chris Van Vliet on the INSIGHT podcast, Redmond shared that Zayn was very late to an interview segment they had in the past. Redmond disclosed that she started to get nervous, but thankfully, the former Intercontinental Champion showed up in time.

“We are getting ready for a live shot backstage where I’m interviewing this person. And we’re like 20 seconds away. Don’t even have eyes on him. Don’t know where he is. I haven’t seen him. We chatted earlier in the day, like, yeah, we have backstage, and that will be great, whatever. But we’re getting close.” She continued, “And so I’m starting to panic a little bit. And literally, like, we’re in the 10 count. And finally, Sami Zayn shows up, and we’re ready to go. And I was like, ‘Oh my God, Sami! I’m so nervous!’ I was like, where is this man? But he was fine, and he nailed it, and we were great. And it was a wonderful segment,” she said.

It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Sami Zayn after failing to capture the Undisputed WWE Championship.