Chennai Super Kings (CSK) wicket-keeper batter Urvil Patel recorded the joint-fastest fifty in Indian Premier League (IPL) history, after reaching the milestone off just 13 deliveries during the ongoing clash against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). The right-handed batter showcased destruction of the highest order to headline the team’s run chase at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, on Sunday, May 10.
Coming into bat at No.3 midway through the powerplay after Sanju Samson’s dismissal, Urvil Patel got into the act straightaway, smashing four sixes off his first five deliveries. The wicket-keeper batter made the most of the early boost, and concluded the powerplay with a series of sixes as well.
Racing off to 41 deliveries off just nine deliveries, Urvil Patel had a shot at the outright record, but after getting to 49 runs off 12 deliveries, he notched a single off Mohammad Shami in the seventh over to go level with Yashasvi Jaiswal.
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Urvil Patel, after reaching the historic milestone, removed his helmet, folded his hands, and unfurled a note from his pocket, before unfolding it and showing it around. The cameras zoomed in on it in time to register the message, ‘This is for you, Papa’, along with another message in Gujarati. Have a look at the moment right here:
The note celebration has caught on in recent times, with the likes of Abhishek Sharma and Raghu Sharma also emulating the celebration with different messages conveyed.
Urvil Patel dismissed for 65 runs off 22 deliveries in CSK vs LSG IPL 2026 match
The No.3 batter struggled a bit after reaching his fifty and was not able to get his shots away, compared to earlier. He was dropped by Digvesh Singh Rathi off Prince Yadav’s bowling in the ninth over. However, he could not make the most of it, Shahbaz Ahmed dismissed him in the very next over.
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Despite the dismissal, CSK are in a very strong position while chasing the 204-run target, with the score currently reading 128-2 in the 10th over.
Such a large part of scoring well comes from hitting short-game shots close to the pin. From both personal experience and working with students, I’ve seen how common it is to leave these shots short, making the putt much harder to convert.
Here are some common reasons why this happens and how to improve.
1. Using your most lofted club
It’s easy to assume that the most lofted club should always be used around the green, but this often leads to shots coming up short. The more lofted the club, the larger the swing required to get the ball to the pin. Especially when there is more green to work with or a longer overall distance, consider using a lower-lofted club instead.
2. Inconsistent contact
High, lofted pitch shots require solid technique and confidence. Proper posture and grip play a huge role in making consistent contact.
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Because pitch shots often require a larger swing, it’s important to maintain good posture by bending forward from the hips and allowing the arms to hang naturally. This helps deliver the club to the ground properly and promotes center-face contact.
3. Wedges lack enough bounce
Bounce is the rounded sole on a wedge that helps the club glide through the turf rather than dig into it. When the club interacts properly with the ground, you can swing more confidently and strike the ball more consistently.
If a wedge has enough bounce, even slight contact with the turf before the ball can still produce a respectable shot because the club continues to glide instead of digging.
When players occasionally skull a wedge shot because the club digs too much, they often become hesitant to make a full enough swing, which can lead to approach shots consistently coming up short.
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4. Pitching when you should be chipping
This may be the simplest adjustment you can make to get the ball all the way to the pin.
When there is more room for roll than required carry, it is usually safer and more efficient to hit a lower-running chip shot instead of a high pitch shot. Because the motion is smaller, even slightly imperfect contact can still produce a very good result.
5. Not using lower-lofted clubs
The smaller the stroke, the smaller the chance for error. Using a lower-lofted club — such as an 8- or 9-iron — can be a smart option when you have plenty of green to work with and a back pin location.
Let the club selection help the ball travel the distance rather than trying to force a larger swing. Lowering your scores can be as simple as calibrating your short game, including both chipping and pitching.
A sub for Arsenal now as Saka comes off for Noni Madueke.
Odegaard slips in a beautiful diagonal pass to Havertz in the box, but his cutback is cleared.
Chris Wilson10 May 2026 18:14
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West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
West Ham are looking dangerous now and they win a another free-kick, but Mavropanos can’t direct a header towards goal.
Chris Wilson10 May 2026 18:12
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West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
SAVE! Oh what a chance this is for West Ham! The biggest of the game so far.
It comes from a slick passage of play with some one-touch passes that sees Fernandes played clean through.
He’s close to Raya and the angle is tight but take nothing away from the save, with the Spaniard getting down brilliantly and waiting for the perfect time to stick a leg out to keep his side level!
(Getty)
Chris Wilson10 May 2026 18:11
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West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
A yellow card for Saka now as a trailing leg clips Summerville. The Hammers will have a chance to put the ball in the box from deep.
Diouf’s ball in is poor though, and the chance goes begging.
Chris Wilson10 May 2026 18:09
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West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
A chance for West Ham now as Bowen’s cross is flashed towards goal and forces Raya to tip it wide.
The Arsenal ‘keeper does well to punch out Bowen’s cross from the corner too.
Chris Wilson10 May 2026 18:08
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West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
A superb pass from Rice to pick out Saka in the area but he’d strayed just offside.
Arsenal are starting ti play as if they know time is running out!
Chris Wilson10 May 2026 18:07
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West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
A swift West Ham corner sees the ball spread wide to Diouf, who produces a great early cross targeting Pablo.
It’s a great effort but Rice does so well to track back and prevent the Brazilian striker making clean contact.
(AP)
Chris Wilson10 May 2026 18:04
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
It’s another good delivery from Rice and it causes some pinball in the box as Pablo falls on it before it’s poked goalwards and cleared off the line!
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Arsenal want a penalty as Pablo falls and appears to handle the ball when he’s on the floor, but it would be harsh as there was nothing he could do. It’s quickly overturned.
Chris Wilson10 May 2026 18:03
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
Todibo is the next player in the book as he shoves over Gyokeres on the left wing. Another dangerous set-piece for the Gunners!
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Chris Wilson10 May 2026 18:00
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
A change for West Ham now as Pablo comes on for Taty Castellanos at striker.
Arteta responds with a double change of his own, Eze and Zubimendi making way for Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard.
Manchester United have not confirmed their plans for the end of the season, with Michael Carrick still uncertain on his future at the club when his contract ends at the end of the season
Manchester United risk Michael Carrick opening talks with other teams if they wait any longer to offer him a permanent job at Old Trafford, according to former defender Jaap Stam.
The 44-year-old was appointed until the end of the season, but his future has yet to be made clear, and no Manchester United manager has been confirmed for the summer. For his part, Carrick has insisted he remains calm about the uncertainty surrounding his future.
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Stam reckons the moment is approaching where Carrick will want to plan for the summer, whether that be at United or elsewhere. The Dutch giant believes the former midfielder has done enough to earn a deal at the Theatre of Dreams.
“He’s had a great spell now, he’s done very well, so I think you need to do that [give him the contract],” Stam said via ComeOn. “I cannot imagine there are no talks going on now or starting because if he wants to go on as a manager, he needs to have a look at other clubs now himself if he wants to change that somewhere else, if he wants to bring in players somewhere else.
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“So this is the time to make decisions, and after this success by getting into the Champions League, I can’t imagine not talking to him now and saying, ‘OK, we want to go and give you a contract for maybe for the next season or the next two seasons and see how it goes.’
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
“And there are always talk with fans, or people are always saying when they’re not successful, ‘OK, then it’s the lack of experience or he’s too young or we should have brought in this manager.’
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“But he knows the club very well. And I think it’s very positive that he knows what happened before, maybe the new owners came in, and how the club needs to be run and what needs to be done and what the feeling is as a United manager or as a United player.
“He can bring that feeling to the players, and I think that’s already what he’s been doing. And together with great people on the board, people who are very committed and want to make changes, I think you can help a young manager like him in making that next step or to become very successful for the club.”
United have been one of a number of clubs linked to making a move for Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola. The Spanish coach has already confirmed he will make his departure from the Cherries at the end of the season.
“I will not talk about my future. I’m fully focused on trying to finish this season with a reward, something tangible for the [Bournemouth] players and supporters.” He added: “It was not an easy decision [to leave] but once it is made you feel relief.
“I feel we have used it in a positive way. Since that day, we’ve had great results but also the mood.
“Everyone is clear, the relationship is so clean and honest. Okay, this is going to happen, next season Marco Rose will be our manager.
“Everyone knows what’s happening. We are in good place and can use this in a positive way.”
The first WWE Premium Live Event post-WrestleMania 42, 2026 Backlash in Tampa, is officially in the history books. The card had five blockbuster bouts: two title bouts, two singles matches, and one tag team contest.
The major attraction on Saturday night was Roman Reigns‘ first title defense as WWE World Heavyweight Champion against his own real-life Bloodline member, Jacob Fatu. But the only women’s contest on the card, a singles match featuring Asuka and IYO SKY, also stood out and became one of the highlights for this year’s Backlash.
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The Genius of the Sky and The Empress of Tomorrow have been engaged in a feud over the last several months. Their bad blood gradually turned personal. Kairi Sane was also a major part of the saga, but she was shockingly released from the company a few days back. This was a major shocker for the fans.
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Despite the massive personal setback, Asuka and SKY locked horns in a singles matchup at WWE Backlash 2026. The former Women’s World Champion proved that it’s her time now by beating the 44-year-old star clean. Fans were highly entertained by the level of the match between the two Japanese female stars and rated it highly.
However, that wasn’t the shocker. Following the bout, Asuka broke character and burst into tears. In a passing-the-torch moment, she hugged SKY, kissed her on the cheeks, lifted her hand, and bid farewell to the crowd, potentially hinting at retirement.
In this listicle, we will explore four potential reasons why The Empress of Tomorrow lost to SKY at Backlash 2026.
#4. Asuka leaving WWE
A WWE superstar breaking their heel character is a rare sight that fans do not see often. The Empress of Tomorrow is known for keeping kayfabe. At Backlash, she broke down into tears and bid farewell to the fans, hinting that this might be the end of her in-ring stint with the Stamford-based promotion.
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Brock Lesnar had a similar moment at WrestleMania 42, and he retired and left WWE, as he has been placed in the alumni section on the company’s official site.
Hence, her losing the match could be her perfect departure from the sports entertainment giant. If she were to leave the promotion, a win would mean nothing to her at this point, and putting a rising star would benefit the company in the long term.
#3. Passing of the torch moment
Since Triple H took over the WWE creative team, one of the things they have been focusing on the most is building new superstars. The former Women’s World Champion IYO SKY has been one of The Game’s favorites.
Asuka has been a mentor to The Genius of the Sky throughout her professional wrestling career, and the Stamford-based promotion built their rivalry as a student versus teacher angle.
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By losing to her protégé at the Backlash 2026 Premium Live Event, The Empress of Tomorrow has passed the torch to IYO to carry the legacy she and other Japanese stars have built over the years.
A win over a veteran star like former Damage CTRL leader has elevated the former Women’s World Champion’s credibility as a superstar even more.
#2. WWE is rebuilding IYO SKY as a singles star again
It’s been a while since The Genius of the Sky has been placed into the main title picture. She last held a singles title in 2025, which she lost in July.
She then formed a tag team with Rhea Ripley and ruled the division up until early this year before dropping the Women’s Tag Team Championships to the Irresistible Forces on Friday Night SmackDown before the 2026 Elimination Chamber.
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Ripley climbed to the top quickly as she won the Women’s Elimination Chamber match, punched her ticket to WrestleMania, and got a Women’s Championship match against Jade Cargill. Moreover, Mami captured the Women’s Championship, beating Big Jade at the Granddaddy of Them All, becoming a singles star once again.
Meanwhile, SKY got stuck in the mid-card mix with her feud with Asuka. By handing her a personal win over her fellow Japanese star, WWE may have begun rebuilding Ripley’s tag team partner as a singles main-event star, and she might soon enter title contention.
A Women’s World Championship match between IYO and Liv Morgan would be a major box-office attraction, as they are both stylistically dynamic and know how to grab the audience’s attention.
#1. Taking time off
Another potential reason the 44-year-old veteran may have lost to IYO is that she may be going on a hiatus from the company. Being a WWE superstar can be stressful, as the life of a star is not easy.
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They have to travel all around the world every week and compete tirelessly away from their family. Asuka is among the few workhorses who have been on television constantly grinding and working hard.
However, she may have finally decided to take some time off to spend some time with her family, as her retirement is not confirmed as of the writing of this article.
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Players who make their first tournament appearance at this summer’s Fifa World Cup will wear a debut patch on their shirts.
Players such as Erling Haaland and Lamine Yamal will make their World Cup bows this summer – as will every player in the Scotland squad.
It is part of a new licensing deal which will see Fanatics replace Panini as Fifa’s partner for trading cards and stickers from 2031.
The patches will be removed from shirts after a player’s debut and turned into collectable Topps trading cards.
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The design of the World Cup patch has not yet been finalised.
Debut patches have been used in US sports for several years, and were introduced into Major League Soccer in 2024.
Fifa has not confirmed full details of how the process will work for the 2026 World Cup, but it is expected to work in a similar way to MLS – which also has a licensing agreement with Fanatics.
Each team is provided with a stock of debut patches, which are stuck to a player’s shirt on the upper-right chest with adhesive before they make their debut.
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After the game, the patch is removed and placed on to a unique collectable trading card.
The card is then sent to Topps to be randomly inserted into a Chrome MLS hobby box, which retail at about $120 (£88). Each hobby box contains 21 packs of four cards. Two cards in each complete box are unique autograph cards.
The MLS cards are autographed by the player, though it has not been confirmed if this will be the case for the World Cup.
As the Fanatics deal does not kick in until 2031 they will not be available to buy until after this date.
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It means there will be a huge stock of debut cards from the 2026 and 2030 finals to create a set of World Cup collectables.
This summer’s event is likely to produce upwards of 600 cards.
Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan will make their first appearances.
Austria, the Czech Republic, DR Congo, Haiti, Iraq, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Scotland and Turkey are back after long absences.
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Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ivory Coast return for the first time in 12 years and will have almost complete squads of debutants.
With the NBA Draft Lottery less than 12 hours away, the Atlanta Hawks stand to alter their franchise trajectory the most by nabbing the No. 1 pick – at least in the immediate term. They may have clinched the top spot two short years ago with 3 percent odds, but not all No. 1 picks are created equal.
Besides, the backstory of their 2026 lottery plight adds all the more intrigue.
Roster Resilience
After promoting General Manager Onsi Saleh and admirably re-tooling around Trae Young during the 2025 offseason, the Hawks 2025-26 campaign was about as turbulent and unpredictable as it gets. Trae sprained his MCL in late-October and it was not long before murmurings of Atlanta being better without him emerged. All the while internal tensions grew.
Within three months, Saleh and Co. replaced Trae Young and Kristaps Porziņģis with C.J. McCollum and Jonathan Kuminga – ultimately reloading their rotation and shifting identities on the fly with Jalen Johnson taking the mantle as franchise player. A series of events that would have derailed a season for most teams but only served to strengthen ATL’s collective resolve. It is that type of organizational adaptability and resourcefulness that render Atlanta proved a suitable landing spot for a blue-chip prospect.
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Pulling a Rabbit Out of a Hat
Atlanta’s upper management preyed on newly-hired New Orleans Pelicans Executive Joe Dumars’ infatuation with Derik Queen by voluntarily moving down ten spots in the 2025 NBA Draft. The compensation? Rights to the better of New Orleans and Milwaukee Bucks’ first-round pick in the 2026 lottery – a 6.8 percent and 3 percent chance at the No. 1 pick respectively. It remains as shocking a move now as it did at the time, and Atlanta’s side of the bargain is about to come to a head.
High-end bites at the lottery apple like this are a luxury that every team dreams of stumbling upon. Not only would being drawn No. 1 have franchise-altering ramifications, but the lore of how it came about would go down as one of the greatest transactional triumphs in recent memory.
Hugging the Middle
Since their exciting, but fruitless, 60-win season in 2014-15, Atlanta has a cumulative regular season record of 658-701. Dwindle that sample size down to the last six seasons, their aggregate record is 247-235. As the internet would say, the Hawks have been as “mid” as an NBA franchise could possibly be for more than a decade.
That being said, there is a distinct sense of respectability in remaining competent all these years. While they have never quite risen to contender status – depending on how you classify their 2021 Eastern Conference Finals run – they have an air of persistence about them. Year-to-year competitiveness in a league that increasingly resorts to pulling the plug and bottoming out. Atlanta is more than likely one piece away from breaking through the ceiling of mediocrity that has plagued them for years. It just so happens that this is the perfect draft pool to twist their fate.
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A Pre-existing Core
Last but not least, the Hawks already have a young, Playoff-tested nucleus to complement a prospective franchise cornerstone. After rising to an All-NBA level and testing his mettle as a go-to guy in the Playoffs, Jalen Johnson profiles as the perfect second option of a championship-hopeful roster. Onyeka Okongwu has cemented himself as their incumbent big man with defensive mobility and newfound shooting chops. Dyson Daniels boasts all-league perimeter defense with a burgeoning offensive game. Meanwhile Nickeil Alexander-Walker broke out as an upper-echelon starter and 20-point scorer on a nightly basis with a team-friendly contract until 2028.
Whether it be AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cam Boozer, or Caleb Wilson, Atlanta has the personnel and infrastructure to accommodate, and develop, a future franchise superstar while winning at a high level every step.
Confederation of African Football has confirmed that referee Jean Ndala will still officiate the first leg of the CAF Champions League final in Pretoria despite recent controversies surrounding his appointment.
CAF announced that there will be no changes to the officiating team for the important match and said all match officials will perform their duties as planned.
Reports claimed that several complaints and petitions were sent to CAF over Ndala’s appointment after some of his controversial decisions during the Africa Cup of Nations.
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However, CAF said the complaints were reviewed and later rejected.
The African football body added that it still has confidence in the refereeing crew ahead of the Champions League final in South Africa.
The decision is likely to continue causing discussions among football fans and stakeholders before the highly anticipated encounter.
Macklin Celebrini delivered a statement performance with a goal and three assists as Canada rolled to a 6-1 win over France in pre-tournament action at the IIHF world championship.
Celebrini factored in four of Canada’s six goals after being named captain Sunday morning.
Canada opened the scoring at 5:16 of the first period when Parker Wotherspoon buried a chance off assists from Robert Thomas and Sam Dickinson. France answered midway through the opening frame on a goal from Guillaume Leclerc to tie the game at 1-1.
Dylan Holloway restored the lead early in the second period off assists from Dylan DeMelo and Mathew Barzal.
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Celebrini continued his big offensive day with assists on goals by Mark Scheifele and Gabriel Vilardi. Celebrini then added a goal of his own later in the period off assists from Vilardi and Scheifele to extend the lead to 5-1.
In the third period, Celebrini added another helper on a power-play goal by John Tavares to cap off his four-point night.
Vilardi and Scheifele had three points each while Tavares added a goal and an assist.
Canada received a strong performance in goal from Jet Greaves, who stopped 24 of 25 shots in the win. France made a goaltending change midway through the second period with Martin Neckar being pulled for Antoine Keller.
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Canada also had notable players unavailable for the game, with Evan Bouchard, Darnell Nurse, Ryan O’Reilly and Cam Talbot listed as scratches.
Real Madrid have imposed significant disciplinary fines on Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni following an altercation during a training session. Both midfielders have been fined around €500,000 (approximately $588,000) after their on-field disagreement escalated earlier in the week and doubts remain on whether the duo will feature for the all-important El Clasico tonight or not.
The incident reportedly took place during practice on Thursday, when tensions flared between the two players. While Valverde later clarified on social media that no physical punches were exchanged, the situation still resulted in internal disciplinary action from the club.
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According to reports, the confrontation ended when Valverde struck his head against a table, causing a minor cut that required medical attention. He was subsequently taken to a hospital for precautionary checks.
Injury Concerns Over Valverde
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Valverde’s availability for the upcoming El Clásico remains in serious doubt. The Uruguayan midfielder did not participate in training on Friday, with his absence attributed to the head injury sustained during the incident.
With only a few days remaining before the high-stakes clash against Barcelona, Valverde is expected to miss out on the matchday squad. His potential absence is a major setback for Real Madrid, especially given the importance of the fixture in the La Liga title race.
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Tchouaméni Expected to Be Available
Unlike Valverde, Aurélien Tchouaméni returned to training on Friday and is in contention to feature in Sunday’s El Clásico at Camp Nou. However, his final inclusion will depend on the coaching staff’s assessment and the decision of head coach Álvaro Arbeloa.
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While he is currently expected to be available, his starting role is not guaranteed as the club evaluates both fitness and disciplinary considerations ahead of the crucial encounter.
High Stakes Ahead of El Clásico
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The upcoming clash carries enormous significance, with Real Madrid needing a victory to delay Barcelona’s potential La Liga title celebrations. Any slip-up could see the Catalan giants crowned champions, adding further pressure on the Madrid squad heading into one of the biggest matches of the season.
It was at super-welterweight where the Australian claimed his world title, against Brian Mendoza, before being relieved of the WBO belt by Sebastian Fundora.
This came just two fights after an even more devastating night against Bakhram Murtazaliev, whose third-round finish has caused many to question Tszyu’s world-level credentials.
Similar doubts have been raised about the current capabilities of Spence, too, as the 36-year-old has not fought since his ninth-round stoppage defeat to Terence Crawford in 2023.
It will have been three years of inactivity, then, by the time he returns to action against Tszyu, this time competing at just 2lbs below the middleweight limit.
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Prior to the Crawford loss, Spence was widely considered to be the leading champion at 147lbs, even after being involved in a life-threatening car accident in 2019.
It is therefore the experience of Spence which, in an interview with The Agnew Podcast, has inspired Stevenson to predict a rather undesirable outcome for Tszyu.
“I got Errol. I don’t think Tim Tszyu can do anything with him. I don’t see Tim Tszyu being the [only other] guy to beat Errol.
“I feel like that experience [Spence] has doesn’t go nowhere. For me, personally, I feel like an in-the-box fighter like Tim Tszyu is going to get destroyed [fighting] like that [against Spence].”
Before losing to Crawford, Spence had claimed victories over Danny Garcia and Yordenis Ugas, which both followed his near career-ending car crash.
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