Jose Benavidez Sr has given a damning assessment of Canelo Alvarez’s future in the sport, believing WBC champion Christian Mbilli could send him into retirement.

The pair will square off for Mbilli’s world super-middleweight title on September 12, offering Canelo the chance to reclaim one of his belts in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

It was a unanimous decision victory for Terence Crawford that relieved Alvarez of his undisputed crown last September, with the Mexican subsequently undergoing elbow surgery.

At this stage, many suspect that the 35-year-old is significantly past his best, perhaps only one or two fights away from calling time on his decorated career.

Most, however, would still consider him a clear favourite against Mbilli, who was elevated from ‘interim’ to full WBC champion following Crawford’s retirement last year.

The Frenchman had retained his ‘interim’ title with a 10-round draw against Lester Martinez, featuring on the undercard of Canelo-Crawford in Las Vegas.

Canelo, meanwhile, has long been competing at the top level while, to some extent, being accused of ducking three-weight world champion David Benavidez.

Speaking with Fight Hub TV, Benavidez’s father and trainer, Jose, shared his thoughts on the four-division world champion’s upcoming assignment against Mbilli.

“I think his era is done – reflexes, speed, power [and his] legs are not there, so we see Canelo declining little by little.

“It could be another loss for him [against Mbilli]. Mbilli’s a little bit fresher, but I don’t think he’s an elite fighter.

“At the end of the day, they’re trying to put [Canelo in with] fighters he can beat.”

While giving Mbilli some semblance of a chance, it seems Benavidez is more convinced that the 31-year-old has been carefully selected as a beatable opponent for Canelo.

It’s safe to say the Minnesota Vikings’ offseason is over, as the club reported to organized team activities last week and will soon set sail on mandatory minicamp and training camp. So, as a review, let’s take a look at the main items onlookers learned about Minnesota at its core over the last few months.

The following lists lessons learned about the purple team in ascending order (No. 1 = most impactful lesson).

Vikings’ Summer Checklist Looks Sharper Now

5. Defensive Secondary Personnel Not a Huge Priority

For months, the mock draft community all but guaranteed Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman would land with Minnesota. It seemed logical: with Harrison Smith’s potential departure, the Vikings needed a long-term safety, and Thieneman appeared to fit the mold.

But the widespread assumption lacked genuine support. There were no team leaks or credible insider reports — just the draft-season echo chamber.

Then, the Vikings made their first pick, opting for Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks, and continued to bypass defensive backs. Minnesota completely ignored the position group early on, passing on players like:

• Dillon Thieneman | S, CHI
• Chris Johnson | CB, MIA
• Colton Hood | CB, NYG
• Treydan Stukes | CB, LV
• Avieon Terrell | CB, ATL
• D’Angelo Ponds | CB, NYJ
• Brandon Cisse | CB, GB
• Emmanuel McNeil-Warren | S, CLE
• Davison Igbinosun | CB, BUF
• Bud Clark | S, SEA
• Tacario Davis | CB, CIN
• A.J. Haulcy | S, IND

No coincidence there. The Vikings finally addressed their defensive back need at Pick No. 98, with Brian Flores selecting Miami safety Jakobe Thomas. Until then, Minnesota passed on available corners and safeties.

The pattern reveals a significant insight into how Flores and the Vikings view the secondary. While many fans treat cornerback and safety as perennial positions, Flores appears to hold a different philosophy. He has constructed formidable defenses without relying on high draft capital for the secondary every spring.

The simple takeaway is this: the secondary is important to Minnesota, but it is not treated with the “panic button” priority that many assume it should be.

4. The Player Core Is Just Fine

Most Vikings fans didn’t expect a full roster upheaval during the spring, but they did expect playmakers like Aaron Jones and T.J. Hockenson to leave. That didn’t happen. Generally speaking, Minnesota kept its roster core intact, except for trading Jonathan Greenard, with men like Jones and Hockenson accepting paycuts.

Minnesota also refurbished the DT position with youngsters, cutting Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave and drafting Banks and Domonqiue Orange.

Other than that, the Vikings proved that they enjoy the roster as-is.

3. Poor Drafting Is Unacceptable

The Vikings employed Kwesi Adofo-Mensah for four years and even extended his contract last summer. But when Sam Darnold reached the Super Bowl while J.J. McCarthy’s trajectory as a franchise quarterback stayed in jeopardy, the Wilfs (Vikings owners) fired Adofo-Mensah in late January.

They basically realized Adofo-Mensah’s quarterback decision-making stank and that his draft classes were not sustainable in the long run.

In return, Minnesota hired Nolan Teasley from the Seattle Seahawks, whose main claim to fame is player personnel — identifying and choosing the right players for a roster. Going from Adofo-Mensah to Teasley showed that the Wilfs mean business about discovering the right players, especially through the draft.

2. The Salary Cap Has Been Reset

Free agency began in March, and Minnesota fancied two main moves: signing Kyler Murray (QB) and James Pierre (CB). And then that was pretty much it until Jauan Jennings (WR) signed in May.

Believe it or not, the Vikings could have gone on a spending spree — if they were willing to backload contracts with large sums hitting the books in 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030. But they held off. The strategy enabled them to reset the salary cap, so that when the 2027 offseason rolls around, the books won’t reveal financial hell.

The Vikings spent big in 2024 and 2025; they stayed disciplined in 2026, resetting the cap, which Teasley will enjoy next March.

1. Vikings Think They Are a QB Away from Super Bowl Contention

Piggybacking on No. 4 from this list, the Vikings showed through their actions that they just need a productive and efficient quarterback to get them to the Promised Land. Otherwise, if they wanted to possibly bottom out, they would’ve rolled with McCarthy and Max Brosmer in 2026, letting the chips fall and eyeing the 2027 NFL Draft for a quarterback.

Finding Murray as the primary solution at quarterback suggests the team is content with the state of the depth chart. After all, in 2024, Minnesota fired up a 14-3 record with Sam Darnold in charge, and heading into that campaign, the general population thought he was a dud.

Murray has actually produced in his career, and Minnesota sees him as the final piece to the puzzle.

If it could finish 9-8 with McCarthy, Brosmer, and Carson Wentz in 2025, the franchise can probably get closer to the 14-3 record from 2024 with Murray under center.

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For 13 years, Norway Chess remained one of the few elite titles that Indian players could not conquer. From Viswanathan Anand to the new generation led by world champion D Gukesh, several Indian grandmasters had challenged for the crown but fallen short.

That long wait finally ended on Saturday in Oslo when R Praggnanandhaa produced a remarkable comeback campaign to become the first Indian to win the prestigious tournament.

The 20-year-old Chennai Grandmaster entered the final round in third place, needing a classical victory over Germany’s Vincent Keymer and favourable results elsewhere.

He delivered under pressure, defeated Keymer, and finished with 18 points to secure a historic title that had previously eluded every Indian player.

Prag’s slow start ends in triumph

Praggnanandhaa’s road to the title was far from straightforward. Playing in Norway Chess for only the second time, he struggled to find momentum during the opening rounds and spent much of the first half of the tournament chasing the leaders.

His campaign began with a loss to Magnus Carlsen before he bounced back with an Armageddon victory over D Gukesh. He then suffered another setback against American Grandmaster Wesley So, leaving him with ground to make up in a tightly contested field.

However, the turning point came midway through the tournament. Praggnanandhaa defeated Alireza Firouzja in a crucial classical encounter before registering one of the biggest wins of his career against Carlsen.

From there, the Indian star became unstoppable. He defeated Firouzja again, overcame Carlsen for a second time in classical chess and entered the final round knowing the title was still within reach.

His victory over Vincent Keymer, coupled with Wesley So’s inability to secure a classical win against Firouzja, completed one of the most impressive late surges seen in the tournament’s history.

The four-match winning streak at the end of the event proved decisive as Praggnanandhaa climbed from outside the top two to the top of the standings and etched his name into the record books.

Praggnanandhaa match results in Norway Chess 2026:

The Carlsen statement

Every champion needs a defining moment, and Praggnanandhaa’s came against the greatest player of his generation.

Magnus Carlsen has dominated Norway Chess since its inception, winning the tournament seven times and rarely allowing rivals to gain the upper hand on home soil. Yet Praggnanandhaa achieved something few players have managed. He defeated the world No. 1 twice in classical games during the same tournament.

The first victory halted Carlsen’s momentum and reignited Praggnanandhaa’s title challenge. The second was even more significant, arriving during the closing stages when every point carried enormous weight in the championship race.

Winning once against Carlsen is considered a major achievement in modern chess. Defeating him twice in classical games at an event he has long treated as his personal fortress elevated Praggnanandhaa’s performance into the realm of the extraordinary.

A breakthrough year in 2025

Praggnanandhaa’s foundation for Norway Chess success was laid in 2025, arguably the best year of his career until then.

He began the year by winning the Tata Steel Masters, one of the most prestigious events on the chess calendar. After finishing tied with D Gukesh in the standings, Praggnanandhaa emerged victorious in the playoff to claim the title.

His momentum continued throughout the season. He won the Superbet Chess Classic Romania, finished among the leaders at the UzChess Cup, reached the Grand Chess Tour Finals, and produced a strong showing at the Grand Swiss to qualify for the Candidates Tournament.

Across the major classical tournaments in 2025, Praggnanandhaa played 93 games, winning 31, losing only 16 and drawing 46. His score of 54 points from 93 games showcased his remarkable consistency against elite opposition.

Staying among the elite in 2026

For Praggnanandhaa, the first half of 2026 was less about winning titles and more about maintaining elite-level consistency.

He competed in the Candidates Tournament, remained competitive at Tata Steel Masters and Grand Chess Tour Romania, and continued facing the strongest opposition in the world on a regular basis.

Although his 2026 classical record featured more draws, he remained firmly among the world’s elite and regularly occupied places near the top of tournament standings before finally shaking hands with history in Oslo.

R Praggnanandhaa tournament-wise performance (2025–2026)

India’s record in Norway Chess

Before 2026, Norway Chess was a story of agonising near-misses for India. Across 13 seasons, the nation’s best performance came under the legendary Viswanathan Anand, who finished second overall in 2015 behind Veselin Topalov. Anand also claimed a brilliant third-place finish in 2022.

As a new generation emerged, D Gukesh took up the mantle, securing back-to-back third-place finishes in 2024 and 2025 — the latter ending in final-day heartbreak against Fabiano Caruana. Praggnanandhaa also finished fourth in 2024.

The pattern finally shattered in 2026, when the 20-year-old Praggnanandhaa mounted an incredible four-win comeback streak to become India’s first-ever Norway Chess champion.

The French Open women’s final is guaranteed to make history, with Poland’s Maja Chwalinska aiming to become the first qualifier to win the title and Russia’s Mirra Andreeva seeking to become the youngest champion since 1992. The match takes place on Saturday at Roland Garros. FRANCE 24’s Jamaes Vasina reports.

The four remaining Berks teams in the PIAA playoffs advanced Saturday to the semifinals in their respective tournaments.

In boys volleyball, District 3 runnerup Brandywine Heights advanced to Tuesday’s semifinals with a straight set quarterfinal win over District 7 runnerup South Fayette 25-21, 25-13, 28-26.

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The Bullets (20-2) play District 10 champion Meadville in the semifinals on Tuesday at a time and site to be determined.

In 2A girls lacrosse, District 3 champion Wyomissing and runnerup Twin Valley advanced to Tuesday’s semifinals.

Wyomissing (22-1) defeated District 7 runnerup Quaker Valley 12-2 and the Raiders (20-2) beat Gwynedd Mercy 15-4.

The Spartans play West Chester Rustin on Tuesday and Twin Valley plays Villa Maria Academy.

In boys 2A lacrosse, Twin Valley (18-3) advanced to Tuesday’s semifinals with am 11-9 win over Scranton Prep.

The Raiders play Penncrest in Tuesday’s semifinals.

The times and sites for the lacrosse matches have not been announced.

Monaco Grand Prix preview (AI generated Image)

It was Charles Leclerc, and maybe even the Prince of Monaco, who was deemed to take pole position, but 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli had a different plan. In the first three practice rounds, it was all about Ferrari until the qualifying session came, and Mercedes took pole position for the first time this decade.Monte Carlo, Monaco – There are race weekends in Formula 1, and then there is Monaco.The narrow streets of the Principality have humbled world champions, shattered dreams within inches of steel barriers, and produced some of the sport’s most iconic moments. In 2026, Monaco arrives with a fresh storyline at its center: the rise of Kimi Antonelli.After four consecutive victories and a commanding lead in the Drivers’ Championship, the 19-year-old Mercedes prodigy arrived in Monte Carlo carrying the momentum of a future world champion. Yet Monaco represents a challenge unlike any other on the Formula 1 calendar. Raw pace matters, but courage matters more. A driver must dance millimeters from walls while carrying speeds that leave no room for error.As the weekend unfolded from Friday practice through Saturday qualifying, Monaco once again proved why it remains Formula 1’s greatest examination of driver skill.The first practice session around Monaco is rarely about outright speed. It is a gradual process of learning where the grip exists and how close a driver can get to the barriers without becoming their latest victim. The first practice round in Monaco was all about Ferrari, as Charles Leclerc, the Prince of Monaco and the home boy, secured the fastest lap, followed by Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari, while Max Verstappen finished third.

Monaco GP – Free practice 1 results (Top 5)

The second practice session provided a clearer picture of the competitive order. Again, Ferrari dominated the second practice session. Lewis Hamilton topped the second practice session, followed by Charles Leclerc, and again the silent conqueror, Max Verstappen, finished in third position.

Monaco GP – Free practice 2 results (Top 5)

Saturday Morning: Antonelli Strikes Back

If Friday belonged to Ferrari, Saturday morning belonged to Antonelli. The Mercedes driver delivered an emphatic statement during final practice, producing the fastest lap of the weekend and reminding rivals why he currently leads the world championship.Kimi won the final practice session, outclassing Ferrari, while Leclerc and Hamilton finished second and third in the last practice round. Antonelli attacked Monaco’s barriers with a confidence rarely seen from a driver of his age. Through the Swimming Pool complex and around Rascasse, the Italian appeared completely at ease, extracting every available millisecond from the Mercedes package.

Monaco GP – Free practice 3 results (Top 5)

Qualifying: The Real Monaco Grand Prix

Around Monaco, qualifying often feels more important than the race itself.The circuit’s tight layout leaves precious few overtaking opportunities, making Saturday’s session arguably the most significant hour of the entire weekend. Hamilton delivered a superb lap. Leclerc pushed aggressively in front of his home crowd. Verstappen extracted everything from the Red Bull. But Antonelli saved his best for last. With the pressure at its highest, the Italian produced a stunning lap of 1:12.051 to secure pole position by just 0.043 seconds over Verstappen. It marked Antonelli’s fourth pole position in six races and further reinforced the growing belief that Formula 1 is witnessing the arrival of its next superstar.

Monaco GP – Qualifying Results & Starting Grid

Max Was Constant

Max was always in contention. He finished second in qualifying and will start alongside Kimi Antonelli on the front row. The Red Bull driver has built his reputation on maximizing opportunities under pressure, and starting alongside Antonelli keeps him firmly in contention for victory. Monaco often rewards strategic patience. One mistake, one safety car, or one poorly timed pit stop can transform an entire race.Verstappen knows better than most how quickly circumstances can change. If Antonelli falters, the Dutchman will be perfectly positioned to capitalize.

Ferrari’s Missed Opportunity

Ferrari entered the weekend believing Monaco represented one of its strongest chances to challenge for victory in 2026.The pace was evident throughout practice. The confidence was visible throughout the garage. Yet qualifying ultimately left the team wondering what might have been. Hamilton secured a strong third-place start, while Leclerc’s bid for pole was compromised as he dropped to fourth after another frustrating chapter in his complicated relationship with his home Grand Prix.

The Race Ahead

Everything now points toward a fascinating strategic battle on Sunday at 6:30 PM IST.Antonelli controls the race from pole position. Verstappen lurks directly behind. Hamilton remains close enough to capitalize on any opportunity. Leclerc carries the hopes of Monaco’s local supporters.

The Philadelphia Phillies will host the Chicago White Sox on Sunday for Game 3 of their series at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The Phillies secured an 8-6 victory in Game 1 on Friday, but suffered a 6-3 loss in the next game on Saturday.

Both teams enter the matchup with identical records. Philadelphia (34-30) sits second in the National League East, while Chicago is second in the American League Central.

Game 3 will start at 1:35 p.m. ET on Sunday. Viewers in Philadelphia can watch on NBCSP. They can listen on 94 WIP, 106.1 Rumba and iHeart App.

Fans in Chicago can watch on Chicago Sports Network. ESPN Chicago WMVP 1000 AM is their radio option.

White Sox vs. Phillies Odds

• Moneyline: Phillies (-167), White Sox (+138)
• Run Line: Phillies -1.5 (+119), White Sox +1.5 (-143)
• Total Runs: Over 9.5 (-114), Under 9.5 (-105)

(Source: DraftKings Sportsbook)

(NB: Odds are subject to change)

Preview – Starting Pitchers and Lineups

White Sox starting pitcher

David Sadlin will be on the mound for Chicago on Sunday. The righty pitcher carries a 1-1 record and a high 8.10 ERA.

Sandlin relies on a riding four-seam fastball with a sweeping slider. His success on Sunday will depend on executing his secondary pitches. The righty pitcher will also need to avoid critical mistakes over the middle of the plate.

White Sox Lineup

• LF: Sam Antonacci (L)
• 3B: Miguel Vargas (R)
• DH: Andrew Benintendi (L)
• SS: Colson Montgomery (L)
• 2B: Chase Meidroth (R)
• 1B: Jacob Gonzalez (L)
• CF: Tristan Peters (L)
• C: Drew Romo (S)
• RF: Rikuu Nishida (L)

Phillies starting pitcher

Aaron Nola will take the bump for the Phillies on Sunday. The All-Star righty holds a 3- record and an inflated 5.55 ERA.

Nola attacks sluggers with a sharp, moving sinker, devastating knuckle curve and a fading changeup. He will need to command the outer edges of the zone to neutralize Chicago’s versatile lefties like Colson Montgomery and Andrew Benintendi.

Phillies Lineup

• DH: Kyle Schwarber (L)
• SS: Trea Turner (R)
• 1B: Bryce Harper (L)
• LF: Brandon Marsh (L)
• 3B: Alec Bohm (R)
• 2B: Bryson Stott (L)
• C: J.T. Realmuto (R)
• RF: Adolis Garcia (R)
• CF: Justin Crawford (L)

Prediction: Phillies 7, White Sox 4

The starting pitching matchup favors Philadelphia. Moreover, the lethal Phillies offense featuring Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper will likely attack David Sandlin early. Backing the Phillies Money Line (-167) is a logical bet.

Sandlin is prone to giving up hard contact. He also struggles to pitch deep into games. As such, the Phillies’ Run Line at -1.5 (+119) is a good plus-money investment.

Citizens Bank Park is a hitter-friendly venue that amplifies fly-ball power. Expect the Phillies’ bats to carry the heavy lifting while the Chicago Chips away, pushing the contest Over 9.5 (-114).