Oscar De La Hoya has weighed in on Canelo Alvarez’s clash with Christian Mbilli, questioning the Mexican’s ambition as he inches closer towards retirement.

The 35-year-old has not fought since losing his four world titles to Terence Crawford, whose unanimous decision victory saw him become a three-weight undisputed champion in September.

With Crawford having subsequently retired and vacated all four super-middleweight belts, though, Canelo is now set to face WBC champion Mbilli in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The pair are scheduled to square off this September, with Alvarez bidding to prove that he remains capable of competing at the top level.

Mbilli, on the other hand, looks to cement himself as the flagship operator at 168lbs after being elevated from ‘interim’ to full WBC champion.

Like Canelo, the Frenchman has not fought since last September, when he boxed to a 10-round draw with unbeaten contender Lester Martinez.

It could therefore be said that Mbilli’s world-class credentials remain somewhat questionable, at least in the eyes of former Canelo promoter De La Hoya.

Speaking with Fight Hub TV, the Golden Boy boss revealed that he does not rate Mbilli as an Alvarez opponent, nor does he see it being a particularly successful event in Riyadh.

“Mbilli, come on. I just don’t like the fight, especially if it’s not going to be here in the US. Again, we have to watch a fight at 9am? I’m just not a fan of that.

“I would’ve loved Canelo to fight here in Vegas in September, with all his fans cheering him on. That’s what fight fans wanna experience – big events.

“Every fighter has his peak and then you start to see the exit coming. [Canelo’s] a few fights away from retirement, so I don’t blame him for taking the money and running. But I do feel that he has a few good fights left in him against great fighters. Not Mbilli.”

With Canelo and De La Hoya rarely seeing eye to eye, it is perhaps unsurprising that the two-time Hall of Famer is not the biggest endorser of his former client’s next fight.

David Benavidez could be about to have his future resolved after being called out for the fight he is craving.

Benavidez affirmed his status as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world earlier this month when he successfully stepped up to cruiserweight and stopped Gilberto Ramirez inside six rounds to win the WBA and WBO titles at 200lbs.

There have been plenty of different options floated for ‘The Mexican Monster’ since that victory, including another clash at cruiserweight against Jai Opetaia, and even an ambitious move to heavyweight to face unified champion Oleksandr Usyk.

The most likely scenario is a return to 175lbs where he holds the WBC title, in order to have an undisputed battle with WBA, WBO and IBF light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, with Benavidez himself stating that the Russian is number one on his hit list.

That fight may now be set to become a reality, after a post by the IBA revealed that Bivol’s trainer Gennadi Mashyanov wants his man to face Benavidez in order to ‘shut his mouth.’

“My personal goal right now is this guy Benavidez – who let’s just say, talks a lot. We’ll see what he’s really made of. I’d like him to stop running his mouth. For that to happen, someone has to get in the ring with him and shut it for good.”

Bivol returns to action later next week when he faces mandatory challenger Michael Eifert, and it seems a win there could now pave the way for an undisputed showdown against Benavidez.

Just two games to go before the Chennai Super Kings’ league stage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 concludes, but MS Dhoni hasn’t played a single match. ‘Thala’ has reportedly been nursing a calf injury since the start of the new season. However, with Chennai playing their final home game of the campaign against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Monday, fans are keeping their fingers crossed to see Dhoni in action one last time before he potentially announces his retirement from the T20 league.

The occasion also fits perfectly with an announcement Dhoni himself made five years ago. During CSK’s IPL title celebrations in Chennai in 2021, Dhoni said he was hopeful of playing his final T20 game in Chennai. Five years later, CSK are scheduled to take on SRH at Chepauk.

“I have always planned my cricket. The last game I played was in Ranchi. The last home game in ODI was at my hometown in Ranchi. So, hopefully, my last T20 will be in Chennai. Whether it’s next year or in five years’ time, we don’t really know,” Dhoni had said, dropping hint about a potential retirement timeline 5 years ago. 

The five-year timeline ends tonight as Chennai and Sunrisers square off at Chepauk. In fact, there is no match scheduled to be held in Chennai after this fixture. Hence, there is a strong belief that tonight could be the final time the Chepauk crowd sees Dhoni in action at CSK’s home venue.

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MS Dhoni’s long-term international teammate, Ravichandran Ashwin, said that there is a “good chance” the wicketkeeper-batsman will play against SRH. In fact, Ashwin mentioned that Dhoni has been fit and ready to play for CSK over the last two to three games.

“I have a feeling that against Sunrisers Hyderabad, there is a good chance of MS Dhoni playing. Let’s wait and see how it goes. As far as I have heard, he has been ready to take the field for the last two to three games,” Ashwin said.

While the CSK camp has continued to deny that Dhoni is available for selection, there is a theory that the 44-year-old has been keeping himself on the sidelines to allow the management to prepare the team for the future. Some believe that Dhoni’s return could disrupt the CSK team combination.

But, with the team playing its final game at Chepauk for this season, it looks like fans might get the final glimpse at the Indian cricket icon, in what could be his farewell match in the IPL.

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Last year, Arsenal won the Champions League but will be mere spectators when Barcelona and Lyon face off next Saturday (17:00 BST).

The Gunners reaching the semi-finals but were dispatched by the French giants in a one-sided second leg.

Chelsea went out a round before, to Arsenal, while Manchester United were seen off by Bayern Munich.

The Ballon d’Or will likely reflect this European balance.

Nominations come later in the summer but with no international tournaments this year, it will be enlightening to see which WSL players make the shortlist.

Nine made the top 30 last August – and that did not include anyone from Manchester City, for whom Khadija Shaw, Vivianne Miedema and Yui Hasegawa among others have staked huge claims.

Others such as Arsenal’s Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey, Chelsea’s Alyssa Thompson and Manchester United’s Jess Park have also all had exceptional seasons and may feature.

Yet when the biggest award is doled out, it is still likely to be dominated by players from elsewhere. After all, a Barcelona player has won each of the past five years

Perhaps until Champions League success becomes commonplace, the leading WSL clubs must accept second billing to Europe’s other heavyweights.

Having said that, with Georgia Stanway, Ona Batlle and even Alexia Putellas linked with switches to England this summer, the balance could flip sooner than expected.

Salah, who announced his decision to leave Anfield in March, told reporters in December that his relationship with head coach Slot had broken down.

The winger, winner of a record four Premier League Golden Boot awards, scored 29 times in the 2024-25 Premier League as the Reds won the title in Slot’s first season in charge.

But he has been unable to match the heights of last term, finding the net just 12 times in 40 games in a season that sees the defending champions languishing in fifth in the Premier League.

“I think Salah’s trying to vindicate himself and make himself feel better because he’s had a very poor season,” said Rooney.

“So I think he’s been very selfish in what he’s done in the two occasions. It’s a shame and fans will be on his side, but I think when you look deeper into it and having been in a dressing room in a similar situation to that as well, Mo Salah knows exactly what he’s doing.

“That’s your manager. You can’t publicly disrespect him twice the way he has and get away with it. And that’s where if I was Arne Slot, I’d have to pull rank and just say, listen, you’re not coming anywhere near the place on Saturday, whether you like it or not. I really doubt he will do it, but I think he should.

“Of course he deserves a good send off but does he deserve it just for this? It’s the second time he’s done it. it’s just a shame to see one of the great icon of Premier League players leave the Premier League probably in this situation.”

Heading into Sunday’s final round of the 2026 PGA Championship, it felt as if it was anyone’s game, because it practically was. An unprecedented 21 players were within four shots of 54-hole leader Alex Smalley, but it was Englishman Aaron Rai who managed to separate from the pack at Aronimink and not look back en route to becoming a major champion.

Rai, who entered the week ranked 44th in the world, came out of the gates on Sunday firing, but after making a four-foot birdie putt on the opening hole, he quickly fell into the inevitable stretch every player faced during the final round in having to stay patient and take what the golf course was giving him.

Aaron Rai of England tees off on the 2nd hole during the final round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 17, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images) (David Cannon/Getty Images)

After a poor tee shot on the difficult par-3 8th hole, and then airmailing the green with his bunker shot, disaster quickly came into the equation, but the 31-year-old managed to convert a four-foot putt for bogey. It was one of those bogeys that was a momentum saver, and the momentum was used on the very next hole.

Rai reached the gettable par-5 9th hole in two and sank a 40-footer for eagle. It was a nice bonus heading into the back nine, which played as the hardest side throughout the week, but Rai didn’t subscribe to that narrative on Sunday.

As the entire field and golf tournament as a whole fell into neutral for what felt like multiple hours with the final groups making the turn, Rai stepped on the gas.

Aaron Rai of England hits his second shot on the 16th hole during the final round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 17, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images) (David Cannon/Getty Images)

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After picking up another birdie on the par-4 11th, it was his birdie on the 299-yard par-4 13th that he may look back on as the moment.

Left with a very dicey bunker shot from 40 yards, Rai had the option of playing it relatively safe and leaving himself 20 or so feet up the hill for birdie. Or, he could fly the golf ball to the hole and bring in a slope falling away from the hole just beyond the flag. He didn’t hesitate and walked off the green with yet another birdie and a two-shot advantage.

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Despite the 13th hole being drivable for every player in the field, Rai’s birdie actually picked up a shot on plenty of the contenders on Sunday. Nick Taylor, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele each made bogey on the hole, while Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed, and Smalley weren’t able to take advantage of the short hole either.

Rai officially put a hand on the door to slam shut by reaching the par-5 16th hole in two and making one of the more comfortable birdies you’ll ever see, and officially slammed it shut with a 68-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th.

Rai played his final 10 holes in six-under par and without a blemish on the scorecard before signing for a 65 and a three-shot victory at nine-under overall.

The five-under round marked his lowest score in a major championship by two. A major championship Sunday for the round of your life is special stuff.

Rai being the last man standing among the likes of Ludvig Aberg, McIlroy, Rahm, Reed, and Schauffele — who all began the day within three shots of the lead — has a feeling of randomness about it, which was the theme for the week at Aronimink.

Aaron Rai of England acknowledges the crowd on the 18th green during the final round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 17, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Entering the week, the most common prediction was that players were going to be able to pick apart the Donald Ross-designed golf course. A lack of trees and water hazards made way for a bomb-and-gouge approach. Or so we thought.

Rai began the week ranked 160th on the PGA Tour in average driving distance, and finished the week ranked 66th in driving distance among the 82 players who made the cut.

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While Rai is known for being among the shortest hitters on the PGA Tour, he’s also made a habit of being an incredibly streaky putter. The flatstick is often a villain for Rai, but it was his best mate throughout the week as he finished fourth in the field in strokes gained on the greens.

With his victory, Rai became the first non-American to hoist the Wanamaker Trophy since Australian Jason Day did so in 2015, and the first European to find the winner’s circle at the PGA since Rory McIlroy in 2014.

Nantes home match against Toulouse in France’s top flight was abandoned with 22 minutes played after hooded ultras stormed the pitch and threw flares.

It was an apparent protest against Nantes’ relegation from Ligue 1 this season, having won just five of their 33 league games.

Supporters threw flares then broke through barriers and entered the field at the Stade de la Beaujoire with the score 0-0 as the stewards struggled to hold them back.

The players ran down the tunnel as police entered the pitch to quell the protest, eventually forcing the fans to retreat.

Referee Stephanie Frappart eventually called off the game nearly 40 minutes after the match was first suspended.

“The decision to permanently stop the match has been made for security reasons,” she said.

Sunday’s game was the last of the season for both teams and Nantes manager Vahid Halilhodzic’s final game at the club.

“The Yellow and Greens wanted to end the season tonight with a victory at the Beaujoire stadium, for coach Vahid’s last match and for pride, against Toulouse FC,” Nantes said in a statement on their website.

“However, following the use of pyrotechnics in the stands and a pitch invasion in the 22nd minute (0-0), the authorities and the refereeing team decided to abandon the match.”

France’s Minister of Sports, Marina Ferrari wrote on X that the incident was “unacceptable”.

“I condemn these actions with the utmost firmness and offer my support to the players as well as to the fans who came to experience this moment peacefully.

“The definitive interruption of this match, decided by the prefect, was necessary. Such incidents cannot be tolerated.

“I wish to commend the swift intervention of the stadium staff and law enforcement. Everyone must take responsibility to ensure the identification of those responsible for these acts of violence, who must be sanctioned with the utmost severity.”

Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts after his team defeated the Detroit Pistons 125-94 in Game Seven of the Second Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena on May 17, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/AFP

Donovan Mitchell is going home after Round 2 of the playoffs again.

This time, it’s a good thing.

Mitchell’s breakthrough moment has arrived. He’s going to the conference finals for the first time in his career. And that series will begin at Madison Square Garden, a bonus for the native New Yorker.

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Nothing better than celebrating with your fiancée after the Game 7 win 🥹💯@TheRealCocoJ x @spidadmitchell pic.twitter.com/4Ua1ndIKII

— NBA (@NBA) May 18, 2026

In his ninth season, Mitchell has reached the NBA’s final four. He and the Cleveland Cavaliers rolled past the Detroit Pistons 125-94 on Sunday night in Game 7 — on the road, no less — of their Eastern Conference semifinal series. Their reward is a trip to New York for Game 1 of the East finals against the Knicks on Tuesday.

“Me and my fiancee joked that we were going home regardless, so we might as well play some basketball while we’re at the crib,” Mitchell said. “It’s going to be special, for sure.”

Mitchell had 26 points, seven rebounds and eight assists in Sunday’s romp. And when his night was over with 4:01 remaining, he had handshakes and hugs for anyone wearing Cleveland colors. He leaned down to wrap his arms around a seated Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson, who said before the game that he wanted Mitchell to be himself in Game 7.

The result?

“It was better than Donovan Mitchell,” Atkinson said. “Is that possible? … It started with him, his defense, rebounding, and then when he gets in the paint and starts making other people better, you know, the dishes, dish-offs to our big guys, that was the key, I felt like, to the game. He had complete control of the game.”

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Mitchell was brought to Cleveland in September 2022 in a trade with Utah, with the Cavaliers betting — correctly, it turned out — that he would be the last piece of their post-LeBron James rebuild and help them return to the playoffs.

They got to the first round in 2023, then lost in the second round in 2024 and 2025. This year, the conference finals await after the third-biggest road win a team has ever had in a Game 7.

“I’ll follow him into war,” Cavs forward Jarrett Allen said.

Mitchell has been an All-Star in each of the last seven seasons, was one of eight players to receive at least one vote in this year’s MVP balloting and will likely be an All-NBA pick for the third time.

But there was a void — the deep playoff run.

Not anymore.

“Couldn’t be happier for him, to make that next step,” Atkinson said. “He’s going home to New York. He kept this thing together this year when things weren’t going great. He was the beacon, the light … he carried us on the court.”

Added the Cavs’ Sam Merrill, who grew up in Utah and was a Jazz fan when Mitchell was there: “You’re not going to find a guy more happy for him than I am. But I know he wants more. We all want more.”

There were so many near-misses for Mitchell along the way. Mitchell’s Utah team wasted a 3-1 lead in the 2020 playoff bubble against Denver in the West semifinals, falling in seven games. A year later, the Jazz were up 2-0 in Round 2 against the Los Angeles Clippers, who ended up winning in six. He got hurt in Round 2 against Boston as that series fell apart for Cleveland in 2024, and last year the Cavaliers went 0-3 at home in the second round against Indiana on the way to a five-game ouster.

He was part of a No. 1 seed in 2021, part of a No. 1 seed again last year, and never got out of Round 2.

Until now.

“We can’t really look at it and say, ‘All right, we did it, we got to the conference finals,’” Mitchell said. “Hey, man, that’s not the end-all. We’ve still got more to do.”