Monte Francis is pleased to welcome Karim Baldé, Sports Journalist and Founder of “Bal des Productions” News Agency. According to Baldé, Zinedine Zidane, as France’s new football manager, one of the world’s richest and most successful squads, heightening the expectations created by Didier Deschamps’ sustained excellence and by a generation of players widely regarded as capable of dominating international football. Bladé suggests that while Zidane’s persona and football legacy provides him with immediate credibility, lasting success will depend on translating personal prestige into collective resilience, tactical adaptation, and the cultivation of genuine leadership within the squad.
Trainer Henry Dwyer is counting on Cote Atlantique’s retained fitness to ensure a strong first-up performance in Saturday’s Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.
The Irish-bred import is returning after a series of races in Victoria, New Zealand, and Brisbane, with Dwyer believing the gelding has progressed optimally through his winter preparation.
Dwyer observed Cote Atlantique’s final workout at Ballarat on Tuesday prior to his own departure for the United Kingdom, where his stable’s prominent runner, Asfoora, is slated to compete in the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood on Friday night (Melbourne time).
Cote Atlantique delivered several commendable performances during his initial Victorian season, finishing second to the future Group 1 winner Sepals at Caulfield. He followed this with a fourth-place finish behind Evaporate and Transatlantic at Sandown, a duo that subsequently claimed the quinella in the Toorak Handicap.
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He also secured a notable victory in the Seymour Cup, defeating the highly-rated Saint George.
Dwyer felt the gelding experienced some ill fortune during his Brisbane campaign but noted that the primary advantage was escaping the harsh Ballarat winter climate.
“He’s fully acclimatised now and he’s had the winter up in Brisbane just to get him out of the cold at Ballarat,” Dwyer remarked. “He was a bit unlucky in a couple of runs up there and he probably should have won a couple with even luck. He’s a good, genuine, honest sort of horse. I think about Listed, Group 3 class. He had those runs up there, he’s had a really light four weeks between runs. He had a gallop on Tuesday, which was pretty much his only gallop in four weeks, but he has good residual fitness.”
“We thought we’d give him a run down the straight and then there’s a nice 1400-metre Listed race, the Leon Macdonald Stakes, in Adelaide three weeks later. It’s a weight-for-age race, he’s rated 100, so it’s a bit hard to place him, but he seems in good order.”
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Dwyer stated that the stable intends to carefully select races for Cote Atlantique throughout the spring, aiming for events that best suit the consistent galloper.
“It’s a long spring ahead and there’s plenty of options for him,” Dwyer said. “We’ll find the weakest races we can. He’s been very consistent without winning a lot of races in his time here. I think he’s best at 1400 metres with the blinkers on, so I don’t know if we’ll stretch him out to the mile again. He just gets the mile, but he wants soft tracks too.”
In other news, Dwyer has joined Asfoora in England after the mare arrived in Newmarket on Wednesday, preparing for her Group 2 assignment at Goodwood. This marked the trainer’s initial opportunity to see the mare since her last-place finish in a Group 3 race at Sandown on July 4.
“She seems good,” Dwyer confirmed. “She had 10 days in the paddock after Sandown and is 10 days back in work. She looks terrific. She’s sound, there’s nothing wrong with her. She can run on Friday and hopefully run well and then most likely go to stud.”
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Check out the latest racing odds for the Aurie’s Star Handicap.
Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue is preparing for his second season with the franchise. Blue, who had a limited role in his rookie season, grabbed headlines on the first day of training camp this week.
During the first day of the Cowboys’ training camp on Wednesday, Blue made one of the best plays after he showed off his speed with an explosive 45-yard touchdown run.
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Following his dynamic play, Blue made a bold claim in a conversation with Jon Machota of The Athletic. The second-year running back claimed that players don’t “stand a chance” against him in one-on-one situations.
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“My speed is what I’m best at,” Blue said. “Once I get in the open field and it’s one-on-one, I don’t think anyone in this league can stand a chance.”
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Blue was limited to just five games in his rookie year and played more than 15 snaps only once, in the regular-season finale. He rushed for his first NFL touchdown in the Week 18 clash against the New York Giants.
Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue expected to be key offensive weapon in 2026
Jaydon Blue posted 128 rushing yards with one touchdown in his rookie season. However, his dynamic plays is expected to add another dimension to the Cowboys’ offense this season.
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Cowboys’ Pro Bowl wide receiver KaVontae Turpin is another dynamic threat in the Cowboys’ offense. His offensive partnership with Blue could help the Cowboys’ playoff push in 2026.
In a statement released after Thursday’s meeting, which was held virtually and chaired by president Aleksander Ceferin, Uefa said it and its 55 member associations “stand as one”.
“We unanimously and unequivocally reject Fifa’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other Fifa competitions to private investors,” it said.
On Wednesday, Uefa had accused Fifa of using football “to enrich themselves and their friends”.
Its statement on Thursday was even more damning, calling it “irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret” and “without any meaningful consultation” with those who steward the game.
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It added: “This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of Fifa’s duty as the custodian of world football.
“National associations around the world are now presented with an ultimatum: accept the irreversible capture of football’s greatest competitions or bear the consequences.
“This is not a ‘democratic decision’, but governance by intimidation – an act of coercion unworthy of an institution entrusted with the stewardship of the global game.”
While Uefa only accounts for a quarter of Fifa’s membership, it does include most of the world’s most successful teams.
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Six of the eight quarter-finalists – including winners Spain – at this summer’s World Cup were European. In the 2022 and 2018 editions, the figures were five and six respectively.
Of the 23 World Cups to have taken place to date, 13 have been won by European countries.
Gianni Infantino’s controversial idea for the future of the World Cup and all FIFA competitions has dominated the football world
16:33, 30 Jul 2026Updated 16:42, 30 Jul 2026
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UEFA and the FA will boycott the World Cup if Gianni Infantino’s controversial plan for FIFA goes through. This decision came after a meeting was held by UEFA and it’s 55 member nations in response to Infantino’s idea to bring more outside investment in the federation’s competitions.
Infantino’s vision is to sell shares in its tournaments which would include the World Cup, its equivalent women’s competitions and ones in various age groups, as well as the Club World Cup. Ire and anger has proceeded the idea, which was presented by Infantino and has also received the backing of Joshua Kushner, the brother of President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared.
Reports had surfaced claiming that FIFA had written to their 211 member associations with the promise of $40m (£30m) should they express support for the scheme, something which UEFA have since condemned, with those who do not support it receiving much less.
The plan has already been condemned by the Premier League and UEFA, as well as the FA. After the latest meeting, it’s been confirmed England and many others would boycott FIFA competitions if Infantino’s idea was actualised.
UEFA have also released a statement following the emergency meeting, which reads: “UEFA and its national associations will not participate in FIFA competitions UEFA and its 55 member associations stand as one. We unanimously and unequivocally reject FIFA’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other FIFA competitions to private investors.
“The World Cup cannot be treated as an investment product. It is one of football’s greatest sporting legacies. It has been built over generations by players, national teams and supporters across every continent. No part of it should ever be surrendered to private investors. The World Cup is not for sale.
“It is both irresponsible and indefensible that a proposal of such significance for football was conceived in secret and brought to the brink of approval without any meaningful consultation with those entrusted with stewarding the game. This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of FIFA’s duty as the custodian of world football.
“National associations around the world are now presented with an ultimatum: accept the irreversible capture of football’s greatest competitions or bear the consequences. This is not a ‘democratic decision’, but governance by intimidation – an act of coercion unworthy of an institution entrusted with the stewardship of the global game.
“But our opposition goes far beyond process. The moment external investors acquire ownership interests in FIFA competitions, football changes forever. Commercial return becomes a permanent obligation. Investor expectations become a daily pressure.
“From that moment onwards, every decision on the international calendar, every decision on competition formats and every decision shaping the future of football is no longer driven by what best serves the game, but by what best serves shareholders.
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“This model has no place in world football. Football’s future cannot be dictated by the expectations of those whose first duty is to maximise financial return. Nor can the interests of national associations, leagues, clubs, players and supporters become subordinate to investor returns. Football cannot mortgage its future for financial gain.“Europe’s position is clear. We will never lend this model our legitimacy. No one has the moral authority to sell what they merely hold in trust for the next generation. As a result of today’s discussion, no UEFA national teams will participate in any FIFA competition for so long as these proposals remain alive, unless this proposal has been abandoned in its entirety and binding assurances have been given that FIFA will never again open its governance or competitions to private ownership.
“Nobody should be in any doubt: UEFA and its national associations will oppose these plans with absolute determination. There are moments when institutions are judged not by what they are prepared to accept, but by what they refuse to compromise.
“This is one of those moments. Some things are simply too important to sell. The FIFA World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.”
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UEFA, European football’s governing body, came out publicly in opposition to the plan within an hour of it first being reported by the Financial Times and Times on Monday.
Shortly after the newspaper reports, FIFA, the sport’s global governing body, issued a statement in which it confirmed the plan. In a later statement, it gave FIFA’s 211 member associations until September 19 to express their written support for the scheme. The proposal requires a simple majority and approval from the FIFA Council to pass.
UEFA doubled down on its criticism after learning of the deadline, saying: “Today we have learned of FIFA’s deadline to associations to support their proposals or have the one-off payout offer withdrawn. This says everything you need to know about this plan.
Aleksander Ceferin’s UEFA has been at loggerheads with FIFA for some timeImage: Mike Egerton/PA/picture alliance
It added that talks with many stakeholders showed that “there is significant and growing opposition to FIFA’s scheme. FIFA cannot to use our sport to enrich themselves and their friends.”
DFB: FIFA plan ‘problematic and unacceptable’
Germany’s mass-circulation Bild paper reported that key UEFA officials including German FA (DFB) President Bernd Neuendorf had already discussed the FIFA plans via a video call on Wednesday.
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“We must not lose the fans’ support, but we are well on the way to squandering that,” he told public broadcaster ZDF afterwards. “I consider this to be extremely problematic and unacceptable,” he added.
“If UEFA rejects this request (for approval of the plan), then it is dead, because I believe that you won’t be able to find any investor who would be willing to go ahead with this project if UEFA is out.”
Bernd Neuendorf can’t see the FIFA plan going forward without UEFA on boardImage: Ulrich Wagner/picture alliance
Other critics have expressed fears that the deal could lead to more tournaments, teams and matches to increase revenue and boost the value of investors’ stakes.
UEFA hasn’t been the only confederation to criticize the report. CONCACAF, responsible for North and Central America, as well as the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have also expressed concerns that the proposal was made public without their consultation while the African confederation (CAF) have said they will discuss the plans next week. Members of the FIFA Council, including Neuendorf, have said they were not consulted on the latest proposal.
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FIFA: Subsidiary could raise billions ‘this year’
FIFA has said the new subsidiary, to be known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) would be valued at $20 billion and that it would aim to raise up to $4.2 billion “this year” by “carefully selecting long-term investors who will purchase minority, non-controlling interests” in the company. FFE would be responsible for FIFA’s commercial rights like broadcast, sponsorship, ticketing and licensing contracts. By far the most valuable of these are those linked to the World Cup,
Under the plan, FIFA said it could make $10 billion available for development beginning in 2027. Each federation would be eligible for up to $20 million in one-time Fast Forward funding, in addition to $20 million through the regular FIFA Forward program during the 2027-30 cycle. Without approval, FIFA projects a development package of about $2.7 billion.
Infantino: ‘A golden opportunity’
In face of the opposition, FIFA President Gianni Infantino released a video on Wednesday evening, describing the project a “golden opportunity to turbocharge the development of the game globally.”
He added that the proposal was “part of a democratic process” and in comments directed to football fans, he stressed that “the sport they watch and love will not change.”
The Vikings’ QB battle has generated at least some interest (as you may have heard). The team’s media members — and some NFL voices more broadly — answered the call.
Minnesota got to work in training camp yesterday. As promised, the quarterbacks each got some time to work with the starters. J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray are the talk of the town as the pair go toe-to-toe for what is a single starting spot. Check out some of the updates that emerged from TCO Performance Center.
The Vikings’ QB Battle
Begin with Judd Zulgad of SKOR North. He offers a reasonably detailed discussion of how things unfolded on the opening day:
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Per Zulgad, McCarthy was sharper. He puts the completions at 10/17 for Murray and 13/15 for McCarthy. “J.J. looked better,” Zulgad said, “but he should have. He’s been in this offense for a couple of years.” Not long afterwards, Zulgad praises the kid for some nice “layered” throws, including some that were quite aggressive. Note, as well, that James Pierre snagged an INT off of Murray.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy throws during first-half action against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. On Dec. 14, 2025, McCarthy continued his first season as Minnesota’s starting quarterback while facing another playoff contender on the road. The young passer remained one of the franchise’s most closely watched players. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images.
On the national level, Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports offered her two cents.
She writes, “No pads yet at Vikings practice. But on first snap of 11-on-11, Kyler Murray is QBing the first-team offense. Hits WR Jordan Addison about 30 yards down the left sideline.” More from Epstein: “Range of plays from Murray, including Addison to left flat, Jauan Jennings right and one play on which he [tucked] and ran upfield. Will it be surprising if Kyler wins this? No. But also, his first-team snaps reflect that staff has more data on McCarthy in this offense than Kyler.”
In a lot of ways, there’s an odd push/pull dynamic within the Vikings’ QB battle.
Seeing J.J. McCarthy perform better is to be expected since he has called Minnesota home since the spring of 2024. He has therefore had plenty of time to grow comfortable in the offense, a reality that he discussed when chatting with the media yesterday.
Dec 28, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) celebrates with quarterback Kyler Murray (1) after catching a 1-yard touchdown pass against the Los Angeles Rams in the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
But then there’s the other side of things. Kyler Murray is widely considered a far superior quarterback who is a shoo-in to become the starter. He had a worse opening day and may have had a less-than-inspiring June minicamp. Murray needs more time.
Consider what the dialogue can sometimes look like online. Sure, McCarthy has performed better, but he’s an awful quarterback who is cruising toward losing the battle that’s not much of a battle. His edge can be explained away by being in town for a while. Murray did look a step behind but that’s the result of being so new. He’ll soon prove decisively better.
Quite possibly, that proves true. Few, if any, can contend that Murray isn’t an insanely talented passer. Plus, he played for Arizona, meaning he seldom, if ever, received good support. Putting him in the Vikings’ offense will mean operating from within a healthy team setting. Again, all of that is fair and reasonable enough.
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A counterpoint: how well did that logic work out with Kirk Cousins? Cousins’ shortcomings got pinned on Washington. Did that work out well for the Vikings? Is this time different?
Remember that the hourglass has been flipped over. There’s about a month between the present moment and needing to put the starter’s crown atop somebody’s head. These guys therefore need to step up since the end is nigh.
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy drops back and delivers a first-quarter throw at U.S. Bank Stadium, Jan 4, 2026, in Minneapolis against the Green Bay Packers. The snapshot captured McCarthy operating within the structure of the offense early, as Minnesota looked to establish rhythm and tempo during a high-stakes divisional matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
The coming days will feature no shortage of chatter about how they’re performing. They’ll each get work in the preseason, so even more eyes will get to see what they’re doing. Opinions will proliferate accordingly.
For a little while, I’ve predicted that Murray starts in Week 1 but that McCarthy starts more games in 2026. I’ll maintain that position.
J.J. McCarthy is 23 and entering his third NFL season. Kyler Murray is 28 and entering his eighth NFL season.
One of the finest Indian batters in the longer format, Ajinkya Rahane, pulled the curtains on his playing career. He announced his retirement from international and all forms of cricket on Thursday, July 30, 2026.
The veteran had a fruitful career with many memorable moments, from captaining India to a historic series victory in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy down under, to winning the IPL title with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2023.
Ajinkya Rahane played 195 matches across all formats in his international career from 2011 to 2023. He piled on 8414 runs at an average of 35.95 with 15 hundreds and 51 half-centuries.
The 38-year-old has achieved several stunning feats as a player, captain, batter, and fielder. That said, here is a look at some of his incredible records that may be tough or impossible to break.
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#5 Only Indian to score two centuries in the same Test while batting below No.4
Ajinkya Rahane brought immense stability in the Indian middle order for several years in Test cricket, becoming one of the backbones of the team’s success. Rahane is the only Indian batter to have scored two centuries in the same Test match while batting below the number four position.
During the 2015 Delhi Test against South Africa, Rahane batted at number five and made 127 off 215 balls in the first innings. In the second innings, he once again scored a century, remaining unbeaten on 100 off 206 balls, while batting at number six as India went on to win by a massive margin of 337 runs. He was also awarded ‘Player of the Match’.
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#4 Most catches by an Indian in a Test match by a non-wicketkeeper fielder
Ajinkya Rahane is among the finest fielders ever produced by India, particularly in Test cricket, where he established himself as a specialist in the slip cordon. He held a unique record for the most catches taken in a single Test match by a non-wicketkeeper fielder.
Rahane took eight catches during a Test against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2015. While South Africa’s Aiden Markram broke his global record by taking nine catches against India at Guwahati in 2025, Rahane remains the Indian with the most catches in a Test match by a non-wicketkeeper fielder.
#3 Only Indian to score both maiden Test and ODI tons in SENA countries
Among the few unique records held by Ajinkya Rahane is being the only Indian to score both his maiden Test and ODI centuries in SENA countries. While many players have scored either a Test or ODI hundred or both in SENA countries, no Indian has scored both their maiden Test and ODI tons in these countries.
Rahane’s maiden Test hundred came against New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in Wellington in 2014, where he made 118 runs off 158 balls. His maiden ODI ton came the same year against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham, where he made 106 off 100 balls.
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#2 Only Indian to score a century both as a player and as captain in a Boxing Day Test
Scoring a century in a Boxing Day Test is a spectacular phenomenon. Ajinkya Rahane did it not once but twice, and also turned it into a record. He is the only Indian to score a century in a Boxing Day Test both as a player and as captain.
In 2014, he made 147 runs off 171 balls against Australia in the first innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). When he was the captain during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he scored 112 runs in the first innings at the same venue and also led India to a series-defining victory.
#1 Only Indian without a single century in a losing cause
India have never lost an international match when Ajinkya Rahane has scored a century (across formats). He is the only Indian without a single hundred coming in a losing cause.
Rahane made 12 Test hundreds and three ODI hundreds in his international career. His 15 centuries have come in 12 wins, three draws, and zero defeats. For any player to have all centuries with the team being unbeaten is a hard feat to achieve.
Former and current Indian cricketers congratulated Ajinkya Rahane after the veteran batter announced his retirement from international cricket on Thursday. Rahane, in a video posted on his Instagram, said the time was right for him to “move on”, bringing the curtain down on a memorable international career.
The 38-year-old represented India in 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is. The Mumbai batter finished his Test career with 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46, including 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries.
In ODIs, he scored 2,962 runs in 90 matches at an average of 35.26, with three centuries and 24 fifties. He also played 20 T20Is, scoring 375 runs.
One of the biggest highlights of Rahane’s career came in 2021 when he captained an injury-hit Indian team to a famous 2-1 Test series victory in Australia after Virat Kohli returned home following the opening Test.
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Soon after Rahane announced his retirement, several former and current cricketers took to social media to thank him for his contribution to Indian cricket and wish him well for the future.
“Jinks kitne tours, kitne dressing rooms, kitni partnerships… aur kitni yaadein. Captain ke roop mein bhi tujhe utna hi composed dekha, aur teammate ke roop mein bhi utna hi dependable. Bahar se hamesha calm… andar se sirf India ke liye ladne wala insaan. Ab agla chapter bhi utna hi khoobsurat ho. Lots of love, bro,” Shikhar Dhawan wrote on Instagram.
“A career built on class, discipline, and unwavering commitment comes to a close. Thank you for every run, every fight, and every unforgettable moment in the Indian jersey. Wishing you success in the next chapter. @ajinkyarahane,” Shami wrote while sharing an Instagram story.
“Congratulations @ajinkyarahane on a great career. It was wonderful to share the dressing room with you and create so many great memories. The grace and humility with which you’ve carried yourself throughout your career have been truly inspirational. Best wishes for everything that lies ahead,” Jasprit Bumrah wrote.
“One of the most underrated cricketers, and the man who led India to its greatest ever overseas Test series win @ajinkyarahane88. Calm, Solid. Kabhi shor nahi kiya, aur apna best karta raha. Just like against SA in Delhi, 2015 after a wonderful first innings, may you have a great second innings, Ajinkya,” Sehwag wrote on X.
“Congratulations @ajinkyarahane88 on your wonderful career. Thank you for some outstanding Australian memories on the cricketing field. Good luck for the future buddy,” Irfan Pathan said.
“Ajinkya Rahane, congratulations on an outstanding international career @ajinkyarahane88. From elegant centuries in challenging overseas conditions to leading India to the historic Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph in Australia, your calm leadership, resilience, and unwavering commitment inspired millions. You proved that quiet determination and character can leave an everlasting impact on the game. Thank you for the unforgettable memories and your immense contribution to Indian cricket. Wishing you the very best for the next chapter of your journey,” former India cricket Dodda Ganesh wrote.
Purse bids are scheduled to take place today for Devin Haney’s maiden and mandated WBO welterweight world title defence against Keyshawn Davis. Ahead of the fight, three-division world champion Shane Mosley has doubled down on his prediction.
Haney ruled as the undisputed lightweight world champion, next stepping up to super-lightweight and dethroning Regis Prograis, before a controversial meeting with Ryan Garcia which had been planned to be his first defence of the WBC super-lightweight world title.
However, Haney then set about plans to move up to welterweight and accepted a catchweight affair against Jose Carlos Ramirez, for which he trained partly under Shane Mosley, comfortably outboxing the Avenal-born operator in a relatively dull affair and then moving on from ‘Sugar Shane’.
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Last time out, Haney dominated Brian Norman Jr. to capture the WBO welterweight world title, but the Californian is yet to fight since, with a mandated defence against Keyshawn Davis now set to end that stretch of inactivity.
“It is going to be a very difficult fight for both guys. It depends on who imposes their will on the other.
“Haney has good, fast feet and Keyshawn needs to be able to nullify those fast feet that Devin has. Once he does that, I think that Keyshawn has more power and the bigger punch, so it’s going to be a difficult fight.
“I lean towards Keyshawn Davis because he is a fighter like me. I love the way that he fights, but it can be a hard fight for him if he doesn’t do the right thing.”
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It is understood that Davis has turned down a deal for his shot at Haney’s title, instead favouring his chances of obtaining superior figures from his 25% split on the purse bids, which will take place at 4pm today, though both parties can negotiate up until that point.
Jul 10, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Sonny Gray (54) pitches against the New York Mets during the third inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
When the Boston Red Sox were struggling and sitting 11 games below .500 on July 1, Sonny Gray appeared to be a for-sure departure ahead of Monday’s trade deadline.
But Boston has soared back into contention with 19 victories in 22 games. The right-handed Gray has been a season-long standout entering Thursday night’s start in the finale of a four-game series against the Athletics at West Sacramento, Calif.
Suddenly, chatter is increasing that the Red Sox might be interested in working out an extension with the 36-year-old Gray (12-2, 2.78 ERA). This is his first season with Boston but he is finishing a three-year, $75 million deal.
Regardless, Gray will be looking to have a bounce-back start on Thursday. After winning 10 straight decisions, he allowed a season high-tying five runs on a season-worst 10 hits in five innings while losing 6-0 to the visiting Toronto Blue Jays last Saturday.
Gray had allowed just four runs in 32 1/3 innings for a 1.11 ERA over his previous five starts before the unconventional poor outing.
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“I’m not happy about it,” Gray said afterward. “But sometimes, that’s part of it. I’ll be OK. … Games like this happen.”
Gray is 2-2 with a 4.58 ERA in seven career starts against the Athletics, the team with which he began his career from 2013-17.
The Red Sox have scored just 11 runs in the series but have won two of the first three games.
Andruw Monasterio was the hero on Wednesday as he smacked a two-run homer in the top of the 10th inning to lead Boston to a 4-2 victory. Monasterio had three hits.
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“I just tried to get a good pitch,” Monasterio said of the winning blast against Jose Suarez. “It was a good pitch, 2-0, and I tried to get it in front and I hit a homer.”
Jahmai Jones also homered and Caleb Durbin had three hits for the Red Sox, who have won 11 of their past 12 road games. Nick Sogard had two hits and an RBI and Ceddanne Rafaela also had two hits for Boston.
Athletics All-Star slugger Nick Kurtz (left forearm) is unlikely to be available for the finale and will undergo an MRI exam on Thursday. X-rays performed Wednesday were “unclear,” according to manager Mark Kotsay.
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“We’re going to have an MRI done in the morning, so we’ll have a better idea of what exactly is going on,” Kotsay told reporters. “The X-rays were kind of unclear right now. So we’re hoping for the best”
Kurtz sustained a contusion when hit by left-hander Patrick Sandoval’s pitch in the first inning. Kurtz stayed in to run the bases but left after the inning.
Kurtz was playing in just his fifth game after serving a stint on the 10-day injured list due to a right thumb capsule sprain earlier this month. He was forced out of the All-Star Game due to the injury.
Jonah Heim homered among three hits and Lawrence Butler went deep and doubled for the Athletics, who have lost 25 of their last 32 contests.
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Right-hander Mason Barnett (1-1, 4.74) will take the ball first for the Athletics in a contest that will include multiple relievers.
Barnett has made 14 relief appearances this season. His longest effort was a four-inning scoreless stint against the Houston Astros on June 5.
Barnett, 25, was the second pitcher used in last Saturday’s 2-0 setback against the Minnesota Twins. He took the loss and gave up two runs and four hits over 3 1/3 innings.
Barnett started twice against the Red Sox last season and had a 5.87 ERA in two no-decisions. Jarren Duran is 3-for-5 with a double off Barnett.
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