Deontay Wilder is expected to be the opponent for Oleksandr Usyk’s ‘Last Dance’ in either December or early 2027, but before that fight became available, the American was being mentioned for a fight with a British heavyweight this summer.

Wilder returned to fight in the United Kingdom for the first time in 13 years when he scored a split decision win over Derek Chisora back in April, stringing together consecutive wins for the first time since 2019, when he reigned as WBC heavyweight champion. 

Now, following Usyk’s decision to vacate his three heavyweight world titles, it seems as though the Ukrainian is targeting a showdown with ‘The Bronze Bomber’ in his final professional bout before hanging up the gloves.

Before Usyk unveiled plans for his career finale, Wilder was being discussed for a potential clash with Johnny Fisher in Istanbul, Fisher told About Boxing.

“They [Matchroom Boxing] made me a few offers with different things, they were trying to get fights to happen and, for whatever reason, they weren’t materialising. At one point it [the offer] was going to fight Wilder, of course I was up for that.

“There was talks, a couple of weeks before my contract was up, Eddie FaceTimed me with Turki Alalshikh and he said, ‘Wilder, Istanbul, end of August?’, so I was like ‘yeah, no problem’.

“That [didn’t happen because of the] politics of boxing. Sometimes Turki can say one thing and think that it’s going to happen, but through no one’s fault, other things happen in boxing that mean a fight, even when they are announced on social media, [collapses].”

Fisher was a rising star in the domestic UK scene but suffered a defeat to Dave Allen last May, before returning with a stoppage win against Ivan Balaz in December.

He has since signed with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, and on Saturday, September 26, he will debut under his new promotional outfit and headline at the Copper Box Arena in London, for what will be Zuffa’s second event in the United Kingdom.

Manchester United have been closely monitoring Carlos Baleba for the past couple of years with a view to a potential transfer, with Brighton slapping the midfielder with a £100m price tag last summer

Manchester United are unlikely to pursue Carlos Baleba any further this summer as a result of the Brighton midfielder picking up an ankle ligament injury. The Reds are understood to have been monitoring the midfielder closely for the past couple of years, in their hunt for engine room reinforcement.

With Casemiro leaving the club as a free agent earlier this summer and Manuel Ugarte deemed surplus to requirements, it has already been a summer of big spending at Old Trafford. The club have successfully brought in Andrey Santos from Chelsea in a £48million move, as well as Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35m.

And while there is still a chance that Michael Carrick would like another proven talent to bolster his midfield ahead of September’s all-important deadline, it now appears as though 22-year-old Baleba will not be an option. It has been confirmed that the Cameroonian has picked up an ankle ligament issue this summer, and he is a doubt for the start of the new season as a result.

United were linked with a swoop for Baleba just 12 months ago, following a standout season under Fabian Hurzeler at the Amex. However, a £100m price tag proved far too hot to handle at the time, especially with United needing reinforcement in other areas of the pitch.

Instead, the club opted to snap up Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to deal with a limited attacking output – a move which ultimately paid dividends as the Reds secured a third-place Premier League finish, largely through Carrick’s succession of Ruben Amorim in January.

While Baleba hasn’t been as strongly linked with a move to the club this summer, as a result of United exploring a number of avenues elsewhere, there was still a chance that an interest could have been reignited for the right price. Now, however, it appears as though Baleba will stay putt due to injury.

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It comes as the Reds have been linked with a number of top talents as they look to progress in the Premier League and also challenge for the Champions League in 2026/27.

Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga have been touted to make the move from Real Madrid for the majority of the summer, while Chelsea wantaway Enzo Fernandez has recently emerged as a shock potential target.

However, the centre of the park isn’t the only area that United will be looking for reinforcements for in the coming weeks.

Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall is on the club’s radar as they look to plan for life without Luke Shaw, while Shakhtar Donetsk’s Kaua Elias has reportedly been scouted as a centre-forward alternative.

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Southampton‘s sporting director has indicated the club is prepared for a potential Football Association ban for manager Tonda Eckert after the ‘Spygate’ scandal, while still hoping for a positive resolution.

The Saints have already faced severe penalties, including expulsion from the Championship play-off final and a four-point deduction for the upcoming season.

These sanctions followed the club’s admission of three EFL regulation breaches for illicitly monitoring semi-final opponents Middlesbrough and two other teams.

Eckert accepted full responsibility for the affair, a position publicly backed by Southampton owner Dragan Solak.

The German manager now faces three FA charges under Rule E3.1 for “misconduct”.

As the new season approaches, the outcome remains unknown, with a ban a distinct possibility, though Spors expressed the club’s readiness to handle any disciplinary action.

Saints’ group technical director Johannes Spors said: “There are so many uncertainties of how this could look like.

“At the moment I’m honestly very positive, looking into the next weeks.

“There was a little bit of discussion as Tonda watched the game from above (in the stands for Saturday’s friendly against Preussen-Munster). That was a bit of a training.

“We think into different scenarios but nothing too concrete at the moment. We really focus on the here and now, and if there is something we have to deal with then we will deal with it.

“It’s not that I don’t want to be concrete on answering it, it’s just that we can’t really.

“In my office with the people around me, we do speak about different scenarios to be prepared, and I still hope for a positive outcome.”

Saints chief executive Phil Parsons says the timeline for the FA hearing is unclear ahead of Saturday’s Carabao Cup tie at Colchester and the following weekend’s Championship opener away to Watford.

“We don’t know – it might be a September hearing,” he said. “The FA have listened to Tonda well, they’ve listened to everybody involved.

“I think it’s been OK process so far, but I’ve thought that before as well and things change.”

Parsons and Spors spoke alongside Eckert at Southampton’s annual BBC Radio Solent Fans’ Forum, where ‘Spygate’ naturally dominated the agenda.

The head coach says he could not have blamed the club for sacking him at the end of last season but insisted the image painted about his set-up is “very far away from the truth”.

Eckert expressed gratitude for the backing of Saints’ ownership and fanbase, although one supporter felt last season meant nothing given how it ended.

“I understand it feels like there’s a page being ripped out of out of a book,” the 33-year-old coach said. “But I just hope we find that belief that the last chapter just takes 10 months longer.

“I do believe every club lives off memories. As much as we all want them all to be positive, I think it’s one of the toughest that the football club has had, especially in recent years.

“But when you take the book as a metaphor, for me the last page is not written yet, and for me there is much more to come.

“I just hope we’ll be sitting here in 12 months and talking about the Premier League.

“I can only tell you I’ll do everything to make you proud. I think we’ve given you some proud moments in the last season, and I will do everything to continue that.”

Fans of the Green Bay Packers are fortunate. An army of excellent beat writers cover the team, providing in-depth information and access during each and every training camp practice. In this post, we will gather the Infinity Stones of on-site Packers coverage all in one place so finding training camp information on your favorite football team is an easy endeavor this summer.

On Thursday, the Packers got a flipping good time from MarShawn Lloyd and an impressive play from a young receiver, plus a new absence due to injury.

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A roundup of the training camp practice recaps coming out of Thursday, Aug. 6:

Mike Spofford, Packers.com

Five things learned: Jordan Love and his offensive line facing the blitz, an injury to Josh Jacobs, the big day from MarShawn Lloyd and Family Night on deck.

Bill Huber, Packers on SI

Play, player of the day: On MarShawn Lloyd’s impressive day, and a big play from ascending receiver Isaiah Neyor.

Rob Demovsky, ESPN

Latest intel, updates: More on MarShawn Lloyd, plus insight on Skyy Moore, a big play from Isaiah Neyor, an opportunity for Jacob Monk and and J.J. Watt visiting practice.

Paul Bretl, Wisconsin State Journal

Three things that stood out: More on Lloyd, running backs in pass pro and an ascending inline tight end option.

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Aaron Nagler, CheeseheadTV

Day 7 notes: The practice was closed to the public, so the Packers ran a bunch of trick-type plays. Plus a few standouts and notables.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers training camp recap roundup: What happened at Practice No. 7?

Nico Gonzalez has become the latest Manchester City midfielder to commit his future to the club. The Spaniard has had a difficult first 18 months at City and last season went from the most valuable player for Pep Guardiola in the first half of the campaign to somebody who was barely used in the final months.

That opened doubts over his future as City look to refresh their midfield given the departure of Bernardo Silva and the possible exit of Rodri. With Enzo Maresca taking charge, Gonzalez was one of a number of players whose place in the squad for this season was not secure.

However, the former Porto player has followed Mateo Kovacic in declaring his intention to stay while on the summer tour. Speaking after the 3-1 win over K-League All Stars, he told reporters that he is happy to be a member of the group even if he doesn’t play every match.

Keyshawn Davis pulled out of his mandated fight with WBO welterweight world champion Devin Haney, and now two-division conqueror Tim Bradley has offered his thoughts on the situation.

Davis knocked out Denys Berinchyk to claim the WBO lightweight world title last year, but he went on to lose the belt on the scales when he missed weight ahead of a subsequently cancelled first defence against Edwin De Los Santos.

The Norfolk contender then moved up to super-lightweight for two outings against Jamaine Ortiz and Nahir Albright before announcing a move up to the welterweight scene in hot pursuit of Haney and the WBO crown.

Yet, after the fight was ordered by the WBO and went to purse bids won by his promoter Top Rank, ‘The Businessman’ decided to turn down a multimillion-dollar purse and pull out of the contest.

On his YouTube channel, Bradley branded it a ‘duck’, criticising Davis for wasting Haney’s time and telling him that he has not done enough in the sport to warrant more than the purse that he was set to make.

“This is [the] damn duck of all ducks from Keyshawn Davis. This doesn’t look good, at all – saying no to this particular fight right here, when you think about everything that he did.”

“[After] everything that he did to put himself in this position and then to all of a sudden say, ‘oh, it ain’t enough money on the table’. Are you kidding me? You are going to take ‘Deebo’ [Haney] through all of this and then you are going to back out of the fight because it ain’t enough money for you?

“Keyshawn, what have you done? You have got to understand, what have you done in the sport, bro? You had a belt for a few months, that is it. I understand that you have got elite skill, I get that, but you haven’t done anything to acquire anything more than what you just got [offered].”

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Haney seems set to move on from the bout and the Californian is believed to be in talks for a potential unification with newly-crowned IBF welterweight world champion, Liam Paro, according to Fox Sports Australia.

Praised as one of the most intelligent fighters, Shakur Stevenson is fast-becoming a candidate for the position as pound-for-pound number one. Although, when it came to naming his top five fighters of all time, one of the best minds in boxing omitted Muhammad Ali from his list.

Stevenson became the third-youngest four-division world champion when he dominated Teofimo Lopez at the beginning of the year to get his hands on the WBO super-lightweight world title, rising up the pound-for-pound ratings as a result.

However, despite his skills, Stevenson seems to have a different outlook on boxing, going against the grain and refusing to place Muhammad Ali, deemed by many to be the greatest fighter of all time, into a list of his top five boxers in history, in an interview with ATS Boxing.

“I thought that Ali was a great fighter, in all-time he is one of the greatest. I wouldn’t have him in my top five but, all-time, he is one of the greatest. They think that I am trolling, but my top five is my opinion though.”

Instead, Stevenson opted for three fighters who retired with an undefeated record in; Floyd Mayweather, who boasted a 50-0 record and conquered five weight divisions, Andre Ward, who hung up the gloves at the age of just 33 and never lost in his 32 bouts and finally, his good friend, Terence Crawford, who ruled as an undisputed champion in three divisions without suffering defeat.

Additionally, Stevenson threw fan-favourite five-division ruler Sugar Ray Leonard into the mix, as well as Pernell Whitaker – credited as being one of the best defensive fighters of all time and someone that Mayweather compared Stevenson to.

“Top five, I’mma say Floyd [Mayweather]. This is who I came up with, you [Andre Ward], ‘Sweet Pea’ [Pernell Whittaker], ‘Bud’ [Terence Crawford] and I like Sugar Ray Leonard. 

“This is what I watched in my era, that I came up on, see y’all came up in a different kind of era.”

Stevenson has recently signed with Zuffa Boxing and is expected to debut under Dana White’s promotional outfit before the end of the year, with Jose ‘El Rayo’ Valenzuela being continuously linked to the Newark southpaw, despite the proposal being publicly refused. 

Moses Itauma has been relatively untested in the professional ring despite earning a shot at the heavyweight world title, but as an amateur, there is one bout that sticks out to the 21-year-old as his ‘toughest’ encounter.

Itauma has won by knockout in 12 of his 14 professional contests to date and – despite no experience fighting beyond the sixth round – the Kent-based phenomenon is set to clash with Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF heavyweight world title at the end of the month.

Itauma’s recent success is nothing new to him, though, having also been undefeated as an amateur; stringing together 24 wins and 11 of those coming via knockout, whilst capturing gold medals at School, Junior, Youth European and Youth World level.

Reflecting on his days as an amateur, Itauma admitted that a 2019 meeting with British cruiserweight Aloys Youmbi was his toughest fight, in an interview with talkSPORT.

“My most challenging fight in my amateur career would definitely have been against Aloys [Youmbi] Junior, who is also boxing on the same night, he also trains at the Ben Davison stable.

“I remember, it was the junior semi-finals and I didn’t know who he was, he knew who I was. I just thought that I would go in there and try to stop him and I left the ring with a concussion.

“He was definitely my toughest fight, as an amateur.”

Youmbi, known as Aloys Jr or simply ‘The Animal’, lost his first fight as a pro back in 2021, but he has since gone on to win 11 consecutive scraps and register nine stoppages, emerging as one of the biggest punchers in the domestic cruiserweight scene and rising to #8 in the WBA world rankings.

On the Itauma-Hrgovic undercard, on August 29, Youmbi accepts his first test at world level, as he faces off with Cuba’s Mike Perez (WBA #10), who challenged for the WBC world title in 2017, in a fascinating affair.

⁠Mohamed Salah ​has signed a two-year deal with Trabzonspor, under which the Egypt ​forward will receive 17 million euros ($19.6 million) a season, the Turkish club said on Thursday.

The announcement came as Trabzon’s fans prepared to head ​for the ‌club’s stadium in the eastern Black Sea ⁠city for a ceremony to mark the 34-year-old’s former Liverpool player’s signing on a free ‌transfer the day after a smiling Salah arrived in ⁠Istanbul in the team’s burgundy and blue kit.

Read moreSalah to leave Liverpool at the end of the season after ‘illustrious’ nine-year stretch

The club’s statement to the Turkish stock exchange said Salah will receive ​a 20 percent share from products sold under his ‌name, plus conditional bonuses each season.

The statement did not say how high the bonuses could go and what the bonuses are tied to.

Salah ‌left Liverpool in the close season after nine years, having scored 257 goals in 442 ​appearances and having won the Premier League twice and the Champions League.

His output waned last season and he was left on the ​bench in Champions League games, leading to a public spat ​with Liverpool’s then-manager Arne Slot.

Salah started his career ​in Europe at Swiss side Basel in 2012 and later joined Chelsea. He also had ​stints at Fiorentina and AS Roma between 2015 and 2017 before joining Liverpool.

Trabzonspor – generally considered to be the fourth-biggest team in Turkey after Istanbul sides Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, and Besiktas – finished third in the ⁠Super Lig last season to qualify for the Europa League playoff round.

The club’s ⁠last domestic league ​championship was in the 2021-22 season.

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)

For Moroccan fans, one thing is certain: The national team’s 1-1 draw against Brazil in its opening 2026 World Cup match was just the beginning. They hope that their team will make history once again after its historic run to the semifinals at the 2022 World Cup. However, while attention is currently focused on this month’s tournament, Morocco is already looking ahead to 2030. Along with Spain and Portugal, the kingdom will host the World Cup that year.

For Morocco, hosting the World Cup means more than just having a global sporting event in the country. The North African country had unsuccessfully put in five bids to host the tournament before FIFA finally awarded the contract in December 2024.

Observers say that the World Cup is regarded as one of King Mohammed VI’s most important prestige projects and considered part of a comprehensive modernization strategy. At the heart of this strategy is the country’s successful national soccer team.

“The World Cup serves as a catalyst for Morocco’s economic development,” Steven Hoefner, director of the German political Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s office in Rabat, told DW. The country is undergoing profound structural change, he said. In the face of climate change and drought, agriculture is losing importance, while industry, services and tourism are expanding.

Isabelle Werenfels of the Berlin-based German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) also agrees that the significance of the World Cup extends far beyond sports. “The World Cup has multiple dimensions,” she told DW. The government is using the tournament “to boost its modernization policy and legitimize major domestic investments.” 

Moroccan ‘soft power’

Morocco is currently investing billions in stadiums, airports, rail lines and roads. A study by the Spanish think tank Real Instituto Elcano described the 2030 World Cup as an instrument of Moroccan “soft power.” The tournament is intended to improve the country’s international image, attract new investment, and strengthen Morocco’s position in Africa, the authors wrote, detailing that “the goal is to create an appealing image of an open, tolerant, and up-and-coming country capable of managing projects at the highest level.”

Another goal is international visibility, which Hoefner described as “a central objective of the Moroccan leadership.” As Morocco has neither large oil nor gas reserves, it is increasingly relying on its political and cultural influence. The World Cup is intended to present the kingdom as a modern economic and investment hub, said Hoefner, who recently authored a study on Moroccan soccer policy.

Protests by Gen Z

However, there is also controversy surrounding these investments. Thousands of members of the generation born around the turn of the millennium, known as Gen Z, protested against the World Cup plans last year. “These protests were directed specifically against large-scale infrastructure projects,” Werenfels recalled. The critics argued that money spent on stadiums and prestige projects was being diverted from other areas such as education and healthcare, she added.

Hoefner views the protests by Gen Z as less directed against the World Cup itself than against the question of whether stadium projects should take priority over investments in education and healthcare. He predicts that long-term acceptance will depend on whether the population actually benefits from the investments.

This highlights the World Cup’s connection to one of the country’s central challenges: According to an analysis by the American think tank Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Morocco has indeed made significant progress over the past 25 years. Life expectancy, income and educational attainment have risen; the country has invested heavily in infrastructure and is now Africa’s largest automotive exporter. At the same time, however, the authors pointed to high youth unemployment, regional inequalities and shortcomings in the education system. “Morocco’s successes to date are undeniable, but the road ahead will be fraught with obstacles,” the study stated.

Sustainability concerns

These mixed feelings are also reflected in Moroccan society. “Many people complain about the rising cost of living, but are also proud of the visible changes in their cities,” said Werenfels. New transportation links, sports facilities and public amenities are viewed positively. At the same time, resettlements and demolitions for new construction projects have also entailed social consequences.

The question of whether the World Cup will leave behind sustainable development or expensive prestige projects is therefore the subject of intense debate. “When it comes to infrastructure for sports alone, there are certainly questions about its long-term use,” said Hoefner. The planned Hassan II Stadium near Casablanca, which, with about 115,000 seats, is set to become the world’s largest soccer stadium, will have to prove it can sustain long-term use, he said.

Environmental concerns

There are also environmental concerns. “Morocco is facing significant water problems,” noted Werenfels. This raises the question of how much tourism is sustainable in the long-term and whether certain developments might come at the expense of other economic sectors, particularly agriculture, she said.

Notwithstanding, many people hope that hosting the World Cup could trigger a development boom. The Real Instituto Elcano even drew a historical parallel: Just as the 1992 Olympic Games repositioned Spain on the international stage, the 2030 World Cup could be a similar turning point for Morocco.

Whether these expectations will be met, however, depends on more than just new stadiums and successful soccer matches. The real test will be whether Morocco can combine economic modernization, social development and prestigious national projects. The 2030 World Cup is thus not just a major sporting event. It is a test of the country’s future development path, and of the royal family’s political vision.

This article was originally published in German.