Julio Cesar Chavez believes that one boxing legend, who twice lost to a mutual opponent of theirs, would never have beaten him at 140lbs.

The Mexican icon cultivated a phenomenal 90-fight unbeaten, becoming a three-division world champion before losing his WBC super-lightweight title to Frankie Randall in 1994.

He did, of course, manage to win their rematch that same year, before securing a second victory over former two-weight world champion Meldrick Taylor.

Most would argue that Chavez’s undefeated streak should have ended in 1993, though, as many felt he was fortunate to come away with a draw against Pernell Whitaker.

In any case, the Hall of Famer doubts that fellow legend Roberto Duran would have beaten him in his prime, especially given the Panamanian’s two defeats to Hector Camacho in 1996 and 2001.

While Chavez comfortably outpointed Camacho in 1992, Duran lost two unanimous decisions to the Puerto Rican at a time when he was simply well past his prime.

This was a far cry from the ‘Hands of Stone’ who stopped Ken Buchanan in 1972, and indeed the one that defeated Sugar Ray Leonard for the WBC welterweight title in 1980.

Against any super-lightweight version of Duran, however, Chavez has told Luis Parra that he would never have been beaten.

“Roberto Duran would never have beaten me. That b***ard is just a f***ing idiot. He always talks s**t.

“I respect him, and I don’t answer him because he’s older than me, but he always talks crap; as if he was God.

“I know he remembers that Camacho beat him up.”

Given it is unfair to compare their respective performances against Camacho, it must be said that the jury is out on whether Duran would have defeated Chavez. The fantasy fight, therefore, remains up for intriguing debate.

It was the opportunity Novak Djokovic had been waiting for. Jannik Sinner was on his way home before the third round. Carlos Alcaraz was absent, unable to defend his French Open title. At 39 and with his chances of winning a record 25th grand slam singles title running out, Djokovic’s two biggest rivals, who between them had won the last nine major titles and ended his quest at the last four attempts, had been cleared from his path. As the men’s draw in Paris was blown wide open, Djokovic was the only grand slam champion remaining in the tournament.

But then Djokovic’s dream of grand slam history was ripped up by the arrival of a new star. At 19, Joao Fonseca claimed the biggest victory of his career in a stunning upset of historic proportions. Across four hours and 53 minutes, the Brazilian became the first teenager to beat Djokovic at a grand slam. He did it with power, poise, and from two sets down, winning 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5. Djokovic had only ever lost one match from two sets up in 279 previous attempts, to Jurgen Melzer in the 2010 French Open quarter-finals. Asked how he believed he could do it, a stunned Fonseca replied: “I actually didn’t.”

There will be a new men’s grand slam winner at Roland Garros this fortnight; for the first time ever in the Open era, the fourth round will begin without a former grand slam champion in the draw. If Sinner’s stunning defeat unlocked it – also from two sets up, while struggling with the heat, illness, and fatigue – Djokovic’s exit has reinforced it: an unbelievable, unthinkable tournament is now an unprecedented opportunity for someone. Perhaps it will be Alexander Zverev, the second seed. Or Casper Ruud, a former French Open runner-up. Perhaps it’s Fonseca, or fellow teenager Rafael Jodar. And that’s only one side of a wide-open bracket.

But it will not be Djokovic. “Incredible match to be part of,” he said. “Tough one for me to lose being two sets to love up. But huge credit for Joao for really deserving to win the match. He without a doubt was the better player in the important moments, in the crucial fourth and fifth… some amazing exchanges and points and he just found incredible shots, lines. It was just amazing from his side. Obviously not great for me to be facing a player playing at such a level. I don’t think I’ve done too much wrong with my game. He was just better.”

There was, though, a clear despondency in Djokovic’s tone. He refused to discuss the window of opportunity that has passed him by, shutting down the question while it was being asked. He bluntly said he does not know if he will be back at the French Open next year, when he will be 40 years old, although he said that last year, too. After reaching the Australian Open final at the start of the year, Djokovic had hardly played in the three months before the French. He was pushed to another long match, in the afternoon heat. “I ran out of gas,” he said. “I didn’t feel good at all on the court in the last couple sets.”

Fonseca’s first victory was dragging him there. The Brazilian, playing an idol he called the “GOAT” and taking to Court Philippe-Chatrier for the first time in his career, appeared overawed in the early exchanges. The 19-year-old has a rocket of a forehand, and a tendency to pull the trigger on sight. But with the sun beating down, the ball was flying out of the court. He found control in the early evening and as the conditions shifted. Suddenly, he was able to hang around with Djokovic in the rallies. Then, he found the bravery to execute. “He just played lights out tennis every time there was a decisive moment,” Djokovic said.

Fonseca’s big breakthrough came at last year’s Australian Open, when as an 18-year-old qualifier he knocked out ninth seed Andrey Rublev in the opening round. “Hype” has followed him ever since; patience not so much. This, though, was a major step in his young career, after reaching the fourth round of a major for the first time. He displayed his firepower, and his guts, winning a second match in a row from two sets down after his round-two victory over Dino Prizmic. “We all saw today why there’s hype around him,” Djokovic said. “The level was amazing.”

Down a break in the fifth set, Fonseca fought his way back and blasted his way through with effortless power. Serving for the match, Fonseca found himself break point down as Djokovic battled to stay alive. But Fonseca didn’t let his opponent touch another ball, firing three consecutive aces with his fastest serves of the match. “I felt like John Isner, but it was crazy,” he smiled.

“There’s a lot of excitement around him and rightfully so,” Djokovic acknowledged. “Hopefully he can be the next great thing and win slams.” If it could be the start of a new era, with a third obstacle in his path, it only increases the chance that Djokovic’s is already over.

Song Yadong and Deiveson Figueiredo fight to keep their bantamweight ambitions alive. Both men hover just outside the elite after UFC 324 in January. After Saturday’s UFC Fight Night main event in China, only one of them will forge ahead on the desired path.

Yadong (22-9-1, 1 NC) believers keep waiting for a breakthrough. The Team Alpha Male product has all the raw materials, but has fallen short against the very best. Yadong, 28, still has time to evolve into a title challenger, but it’s paramount that he taps into his true potential. He’s fighting a former champion in the main event on home turf. Everything lines up for a standout performance from the significant betting favorite. He must deliver.

“I am very close to these guys,” Song told CBS Sports HQ’s Brian Campbell on Tuesday. “I lost because of small points. I could have won the fight, each one, even the Petr Yan [fight]. I could have. But I learned a lot of experience from those fights. I believe I will get back soon and am only one or two fights away from a title shot.”

Sign up for Paramount+ and watch UFC Fight Night: Yadong vs. Figueiredo live for no additional fee — every UFC numbered event and UFC Fight Night is included with your subscription! Plans start as low as $8.99/month or $89.99/year!

Figueiredo (25-6-1) has a shorter window to break through at 38. He is very active, but running out of time to win a second division title. He and Yadong, 10 years his junior, share similar recent losses. They’ve both been defeated by reigning UFC champion Petr Yan and title challenger Cory Sandhagen. At UFC 324, Figueiredo lost to top contender Umar Nurmagomedov, and former champ O’Malley felled Yadong. Saturday’s headliners are in the same position, but Figueiredo has time working against him. He prepares not only with eagerness, but also with anger after Yan recently referred to Saturday’s headliners as his “kids.”

“Petr Yan is a son of a bitch. He keeps saying that stuff,” Figueiredo told CBS Sports through a Portuguese interpreter. “In our first fight, I made him sit down. In the next fight, I’ll put him to sleep.”

Elsewhere on Saturday, light heavyweight veteran Alonzo Menifield looks to get back on track when he takes on rising Chinese prospect Zhang Mingyang. Menifield suffered a brutal first-round knockout loss in November against Volkan Oezdemir. The win ended a brief two-fight win streak that had the American building some momentum. Now, he looks to return to form against Mingyang, who lost by knockout against Johnny Walker last August. 

Plus, former interim heavyweight title challenger Sergei Pavlovich looks to keep his momentum when he faces Tallison Teixeira. Pavlovich suffered consecutive losses to Tom Aspinall and Alexander Volkov in November 2023 and June 2024 to slow his fast rise up the heavyweight ranks. A pair of wins in 2025 over Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Waldo Cortes-Acosta helped to regain it. Teixeira looks to build off a decision win over Tai Tuivasa in February.

Let’s take a look at the rest of the fight card with the latest odds from DraftKings before getting to a prediction and expert pick on the main event below.

UFC Fight Night card, odds

UFC Fight Night viewing information

Date: Saturday, May 30 | Start time: 7 a.m. ET (Main card) | 4 a.m. ET (Preliminary card)
Location: Galaxy Arena — Macau, China
TV Channel: | Stream: Paramount+ (subscribe now for as low as $8.99 per month)

Prediction

Song Yadong vs. Deiveson Figueiredo: Yadong believes he wields the speed and power advantage. I agree. Figueiredo coined himself “The God of War” with grizzly stoppages in the flyweight division. He holds the record for most knockdowns and the second most finishes at 125 pounds. However, diminishing size and age have muted his pop at bantamweight. Figueiredo will struggle most at boxing range, but that’s one of many issues. Figueiredo used to train with Team Alpha Male, his opponent’s team. Yadong’s corner knows Figueiredo’s game intricately. The guillotine is among Figueiredo’s best weapons, but few martial arts minds know the choke better than Yadong’s coach, Urijah Faber. Yadong’s maturing, well-rounded game and youthful athleticism are too much for a declining former flyweight champ. I give Figueiredo enough credit to last 25 minutes, but don’t rule out a knockout loss. Either way, it feels like this is Figueiredo’s last stand as a potential major player. Pick: Yadong via unanimous decision

Who wins Song vs. Figueiredo, and how exactly does the fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks and analysis from the incomparable expert who is up over $21,000 on his UFC picks since May 2018, and find out.

The 20-year wait is over. The Carolina Hurricanes are going back to the Stanley Cup Final.

The Hurricanes left no doubt on Friday night, blitzing the Montreal Canadiens 6-1 to win the Eastern Conference Final in five games and advance to the championship series against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Advertisement

Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven, and Eric Robinson scored in a dominating first period, then Jackson Blake and Shayne Gostisbehere added second-period goals that pushed the Hurricanes to a commanding lead over the Canadiens

The Hurricanes swept through the first two rounds and have won the last three games in the series, the last being Wednesday’s 4-0 road win that had them in complete control and staying on a smothering game. And Game 5 picked right up where that left off, with the Hurricanes taking a 15-4 edge in shots on goal while steadily pinning the Canadiens in their own end and attacking Jakub Dobes in net

Hall struck first by finishing a feed from Logan Stankoven, who had crashed into Dobes on the left side. The Canadiens challenged the call for goaltender interference, but officials determined after a replay review that it should stand.

Hall returned the favor by feeding Stankoven from behind the net for a score on the right side. And late in the period, William Carrier sent a high flip from deep in his own end to feed Robinson, who charged across the blue line to beat Mike Matheson to the puck and slip it underneath Dobes for the 3-0 lead that sent a buzzing home crowd into yet another roar.

Blake scored by skating in to clean up a loose rebound when Dobes stopped a breakaway for Hall, while Gostisbehere finished a power-play feed from Seth Jarvis near the crease for the 5-0 lead.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Seth Jarvis added an empty-net goal late in the third period for the final margin.

The Hurricanes entered this series having gone 1-12 in the Eastern Conference Final in their eight-year postseason run under coach Rod Brind’Amour, falling in sweeps to Boston in 2019 and Florida in 2023 before losing in five games to the Panthers in last year’s rematch.

SEE ALSO: Mebane Canes superfan’s collection spans a lifetime

Advertisement

But after regrouping from the Game 1 debacle, the Hurricanes took control of the series from the young and skilled Canadiens, who had arrived at this round ahead of schedule, to put themselves back in the Stanley Cup Final.

Advertisement

The last time the Hurricanes were in that round? Brind’Amour was the captain on a team that hoisted the Cup in a seven-game series against Edmonton in 2006.

The Hurricanes became the first team to reach the Stanley Cup Final with only one loss since 1983, according to SportRadar, and the only team to do so since the league went to best-of-seven series in all four postseason rounds in 1987.

Advertisement

The Stanley Cup Final begins Tuesday night in Raleigh. All games will air on ABC11.

– The Associated Press contributed.

One fan said it’s been “amazing” to watch the Hurricanes this season.

The Carolina Hurricanes Foundation has given back to the community during the playoff run. “We are excited that we could offer these grants.”

Advertisement

Retired NHL legend Claude Lemieux was also Freddie Andersen’s agent.

The Carolina Hurricanes’ mascot isn’t shying away from the spotlight ahead of Game 5 on Friday night.

Outlandish outfits and props are part of the fun as the Caniacs enjoy a memorable playoff run.

Advertisement

Advertisement

SEE ALSO: Hurricanes and Canadiens playoff run sparks friendly rivalry between couple, their Raleigh bar

Download the ABC11 News app

He admitted he was not sure he would be able to compete in Korea, but said walking was more painful than playing.

“Bizarrely I have no sensation throughout the golf swing that there’s anything wrong with it,” added the Englishman. “I sense it when I’m walking downhill, steep downhills. I’m going to have to strengthen that leg, but it’s not affecting my golf in any way.

“I just have to be reminding myself that I can’t go and play padel, tennis or do anything stupid or hop up steps like I did a couple of weeks ago.

“Walking in straight lines and being super sensible is not something I’m used to doing. I feel good, the body feels good. We’ll deal with that at some stage.”

Poulter has yet to taste victory at an individual LIV Golf event since joining in 2022, but has 17 professional wins, including three on the PGA Tour.

He is not the first golfer to suffer a freak injury.

World number one Scottie Scheffler missed the first two weeks of the 2025 PGA Tour season after undergoing surgery on a hand injury he sustained while cooking Christmas dinner, which left him with a puncture wound to the palm of his right hand from a broken glass.

Rory McIlroy also had to miss the 2015 Open after he ruptured ankle ligaments while playing five-a-side football with his friends.

Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ RJ Abarrientos during a game vs Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals Game 5. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Barangay Ginebra scored a pivotal 111-104 victory over Rain or Shine in Game 5 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals at Araneta Coliseum on Friday.

The Gin Kings moved a step closer to reaching the Finals with a 3-2 lead, but coach Tim Cone was anything but satisfied.

“We’re not going to be happy with this win. We’ve been in this situation before. We led 3-2 and then got beat. Once by San Miguel, once by TNT,” said Cone.

“It’s too easy to get euphoric with the 3-2 lead. We’re not. A lot of things went our way tonight, which is great, we’re fortunate, but we have to move on.”

Ginebra held on to a  10-point lead, 91-81, in the fourth quarter when RJ Abarrientos took charge to fend off the Elasto Painters for good.

Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Justin Brownlee during a game vs Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals Game 5. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Advertisement

The young guard scored seven points in the Gin Kings’ decisive 10-2 run that made it a safe 101-83 advantage with 4:03 remaining.

Abarrientos finished with 31 points, eight assists, four rebounds and two steals for Ginebra, which can close out the series on Sunday.

Justin Brownlee also came up big with 22 points, six rebounds and six assists while Troy Rosario scored 16.

Adrian Nocum topscored in a losing effort for Rain or Shine with 25 points. Jaylen Johnson registered a double-double of 22 points and 14 rebounds while Jhonard Clarito had 20 points and 10 rebounds.

The semifinals return to the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo for Game 6.

Kit Wilson blamed a major WWE star for missing this week’s episode of SmackDown and vowed to get revenge. Tonight’s edition of the blue brand aired live from Barcelona, Spain, and was the final show before Clash in Italy on Sunday.

The Miz lost to Axiom tonight on SmackDown after Danhausen kept getting involved in the match. The former AEW star kept cutting the lights in the arena when The Miz had the advantage, and eventually Axiom picked up the pinfall victory.

The Miz is in an alliance with Kit Wilson on the blue brand. Wilson was denied entry into Spain and missed this week’s episode of SmackDown, and he apologized to the fans ahead of the show.

Danhausen responded to Wilson’s post by calling him toxic, which led to the 31-year-old blaming The Very Nice, Very Evil star for the ordeal. Wilson also vowed to destroy Danhausen, and you can check out his message in the post below.

“WAS THIS YOU?! IF YOU’VE STOPPED ME FROM GOING BACK TO EUROPE I PROMISE I WILL DESTROY YOU,” he wrote.

Danhausen also invaded The Miz’s social media video following his loss to Axiom on WWE SmackDown.

Kit Wilson opens up about WWE star’s major injury

SmackDown star Kit Wilson recently discussed Elton Prince and the severe neck injury he suffered earlier this year.

Wilson and Prince were in a popular tag team known as Pretty Deadly together before the injury. He took to social media following the injury and noted that Prince was a private person and that he hoped they could be a tag team again in WWE down the line.

“So for him to suffer a career-threatening injury was, and still is, devastating. Everything I do now as a singles competitor is with the hope that one day we can be Pretty Deadly again. But that isn’t the priority. Right now, I’m just grateful that Elton has finally had his surgery and is on the road to recovery, so he can be the best partner and the best father he can be. I could say so much more, but I’ll let Elton do that in his own time. Love you, Lewis. x”

It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Kit Wilson after missing this week’s edition of WWE SmackDown.