Sports
Moses Itauma gives honest verdict on whether he would beat Oleksandr Usyk now
While their crossroads showdown is becoming increasingly less likely, Moses Itauma has nonetheless considered whether he would defeat the great Oleksandr Usyk.
The 21-year-old is fighting for one of Usyk’s old belts on August 29, taking on Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF world title at London’s O2 Arena.
If he succeeds, Itauma will become the youngest heavyweight champion since Mike Tyson dethroned Trevor Berbick with a two-round demolition in 1986.
The prodigious talent must then defend his title against mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez, who has agreed to wait in the wings for an unspecified lump of step-aside money.
Before that, though, Itauma is expected to encounter his toughest assignment thus far against Hrgovic, whose only defeat came when he was stopped on cuts in round eight of his 2024 contest with Daniel Dubois.
In other words, Hrgovic should determine whether the Brit is capable of competing at world level, where Usyk has represented the leading operator for quite some time.
Even after vacating his three titles, the Ukrainian remains the lineal heavyweight champion following his back-to-back victories over Tyson Fury in 2024.
Since then, however, a subpar performance against former kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven, who he ultimately stopped in round 11 of their May encounter, has signalled that Usyk is closer to retirement than many had anticipated.
As such, the 39-year-old has revealed that he is now approaching his last dance, while Itauma tells DAZN that he remains fully confident in defeating the all-time great.
But while Usyk-Itauma would make for a fascinating spectacle, it is far more likely that the two-division undisputed champion ends up facing Deontay Wilder.
Aug 10, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill (3) is congratulated by San Diego Padres designated hitter Gavin Sheets (30) after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images Jackson Merrill belted a two-run homer Monday night in the bottom of the seventh inning and the San Diego Padres rallied for a 3-2 win over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers.
With Ty France aboard after a one-out single that snapped Logan Henderson’s string of 13 straight hitters retired, Merrill crushed a 1-1 changeup an estimated 431 feet to center for his 19th homer. It was his ninth homer since the All-Star break, tied for most in the majors with Atlanta’s Matt Olson of Atlanta and Boston’s Wilyer Abreu.
Yuki Matsui (3-1) pitched a 1-2-3 seventh to garner the win and Adrian Morejon induced a double-play ball from Jake Bauers to end the eighth. Mason Miller worked the ninth for his 30th save in 31 chances as San Diego won for the fourth time in five games.
Henderson (6-2) pitched a career-high 6 1/3 innings, yielding five hits and three runs while walking one and striking out seven. San Diego starter Casey Mize permitted five hits and two runs over six innings, issuing two walks and whiffing six.
Mize, who was hammered for eight runs in his first Padres start, a 10-4 loss in Arizona last Wednesday, looked much better. His only mistake was a first-pitch fastball in the second that Christian Yelich ambushed, driving it into the seats in left for his eighth homer after William Contreras walked.
San Diego got a run back in its half of the second when Ty France led off and lined a changeup over the left field wall for his 17th homer. The Padres angled to tie the score in the third when Freddy Fermin led off with a double and reached third on Sung-Mun Song’s sacrifice bunt.
But Henderson induced a groundout from Fernando Tatis Jr. and fanned Jake Cronenworth to end the threat. He didn’t have to pitch from the stretch again until facing Merrill in the game’s most critical at-bat.
Milwaukee managed a two-out baserunner in the ninth when Contreras drew a walk but pinch runner Brandon Lockridge was nailed trying to steal second.
–Field Level Media
US President Donald Trump (R) waves next to FIFA President Gianni Infantino (L) during the award ceremony of the 2026 World Cup football tournament final match between Spain and Argentina at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on July 19, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
US President Donald Trump on Monday backed FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who is in hot water over allegations of a workplace affair and criticism of a failed private investment scheme.
“FIFA would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing President Gianni Infantino,” Trump said in a Truth Social post, calling the Italian-Swiss lawyer “fantastic” and saying he “presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented.”
READ: What next for beleaguered FIFA president Gianni Infantino?
“If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again!”
Trump’s backing of Infantino contrasts with the response of US Soccer, which issued a statement critiquing the FIFA leader alongside Canada Soccer and football organizations in Central America and the Caribbean.
Infantino, who faces reelection next March, has denied allegations of wrongdoing, and FIFA for their part has backed its beseiged president, calling the backlash “a concerted and ongoing effort by some to undermine” the organization.
Other football organizations, including the Confederation of African Football and South American governing body CONMEBOL, share Trump’s position in supporting Infantino.
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NEW DELHI: Indian wrestling has suffered a doping setback ahead of the Asian Games, with Greco-Roman wrestler Deepanshu provisionally suspended by the National AntiDoping Agency (NADA) after failing an out-of-competition dope test for the prohibited anabolic steroid stanozolol.Deepanshu, who competes in the 130kg category, had won the Asian Games selection trials in Lucknow and was part of the country’s squad for the continental showpiece. However, his positive test has resulted in his removal from the national camp and squad.Ronak Dahiya, who had lost to Deepanshu in the trials and was named as reserve, has now been drafted into the 130kg category.It has been learnt that Deepanshu’s sample was collected by dope control officers at the Lucknow camp. The sample was subsequently tested at the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL), where it returned positive for stanozolol.The latest doping case is particularly serious as it is Deepanshu’s second offence. He had earlier served a threeyear ban for a doping violation involving the same prohibited substance.He returned to competition in 2025 and subsequently earned a place in the national camp. As a repeat offender, Deepanshu faces a potentially lengthy ban of up to eight years, which could put his career in jeopardy.His suspension has left Indian wrestling to deal with an embarrassing doping blow during a crucial phase of its preparations for the Games.Meanwhile, Ronak has begun training alongside the main Games squad and will travel to Uzbekistan along with other members of the Greco-Roman contingent for training-cum-exposure trip.The fresh doping setback comes on the heels of disciplinary action against Indian weightlifters selected for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Three of the four lifters who tested positive for prohibited substances ahead of the Games have admitted their violations and accepted bans ranging from three to four years. Their suspensions have also extinguished their Asian Games hopes.
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Junior Caminero hit a three-run homer in an eight-run eighth inning as the Tampa Bay Rays rallied for a 10-6 victory over the Athletics on Monday night.
Caminero hit his 34th of the year after Yandy Díaz and Jonathan Aranda both singled to kick off the inning, bringing the Rays within one. Chandler Simpson’s RBI single tied the game, and Taylor Walls hit a two-run single to give Tampa Bay an 8-6 lead. Díaz hit a sacrifice fly and Aranda hit an RBI single in his second at-bat of the inning to make it 10-6.
Rays reliever Chris Roycroft (1-0) pitched the seventh inning, giving up three hits and three earned runs. Starter Freddy Peralta pitched the first six innings, with five strikeouts, three earned runs and a walk.
Díaz homered on the second pitch of the game to make it 1-0. The A’s responded with an RBI double by Tyler Soderstrom to tie it, followed by Soderstrom stealing home later in the inning to make it 2-1.
Zack Gelof hit a solo home run in the fifth inning for the Athletics in his first game back after being on the injured list with a right knee laceration he sustained against the Detroit Tigers on July 9. He hit an RBI double in the seventh inning.
Jeff McNeil hit a sacrifice fly and Jacob Wilson doubled in the seventh to give the A’s a 6-2 lead.
Jose Suarez (1-4) gave up four runs while getting just one out in the eighth, after Seth Johnson was charged with four runs and failed to record an out. Jacob Lopez pitched the first seven innings, allowing two runs with five strikeouts and a walk.
RHP Nick Martinez (11-3, 2.65 ERA) will start on the mound for the Rays on Tuesday for the second game of the series. RHP Mason Barnett (1-2, 5.56) will start for the Athletics.
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The Dallas Cowboys and veteran defensive tackle Quinnen Williams agreed to a three-year extension prior to the start of the 2026 NFL season that will make him one of the highest-paid players at his position.
Williams agreed to an extension worth $105.9 million, including $101 million in guaranteed money and $63.35 million guaranteed at signing. He is also getting a signing bonus worth $31.85 million.
Williams, who has made the last four Pro Bowls, was traded to the Cowboys before the deadline last season in a blockbuster deal with the New York Jets.
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Quinnen Williams of the Dallas Cowboys smiles during training camp at River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard, Calif., on Aug. 3, 2026. (Getty Images)
The Jets, who were in the middle of another lackluster season, decided to trade away Williams and cornerback Sauce Gardner (Indianapolis Colts), parting ways with two top four NFL Draft choices as they continue to rebuild.
Williams’ trade was interesting considering the Jets inked him to a four-year extension worth $96 million with $66 million guaranteed in 2023. The Jets acquired a second-round pick in 2026, a 2027 first-round pick and defensive tackle Mazi Smith in exchange for Williams.
DALLAS COWBOYS SET THEMSELVES UP FOR INTERNET MOCKERY WITH CALEB DOWNS TROPHY WALKTHROUGH
Now, the Cowboys have one of the best at the position locked in through the 2030 campaign – a priority that team executive vice president Stephen Jones mentioned at the start of training camp.
Williams became the fourth defensive tackle to sign a deal averaging more than $30 million per season, joining the Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Carter (four years, $152 million), Tennessee Titans’ Jeffery Simmons (three years, $105.8 million), and Kansas City Chiefs’ Chris Jones (five years, $158.75 million).
Quinnen Williams of the Dallas Cowboys participates in Pro Bowl team practice during the NFL Pro Bowl Games at Moscone Center South in San Francisco, Calif., on Feb. 2, 2026. (Getty Images)
And the Cowboys have not been shy about flexing their finances, as fellow defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa was signed to a four-year, $80 million extension to remain a key piece on defense next to Williams.
With Kenny Clark, who was acquired in the Micah Parsons trade to the Green Bay Packers, and Rashan Gary, the former Packers defensive end who joined the team in free agency this offseason, also on board for the Cowboys, they have a revamped defense that can match the firepower their offense clearly showcased in Brian Schottenheimer’s first year as head coach in 2025.
In his seven games with Dallas last season, Williams tallied 21 combined tackles, 1.5 sacks, three tackles for loss and nine quarterback hits.
Quinnen Williams of the New York Jets looks on before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on Oct. 26, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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For his career, Williams has totaled 343 combined tackles – 62 for loss – 41.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles and earned a First Team All-Pro nod during his breakout 2022 campaign with the Jets, where he had 12 sacks.
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Dec 4, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (92) during the first half at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Quinnen Williams has signed a three-year contract extension that will make him the second-highest paid at his position, according to multiple reports on Monday.
Williams, who came to Dallas in a trade deadline deal with the New York Jets last season, will earn $105.9 million over the length of the extension (through 2030). Reports said the deal includes $101 million guaranteed, $63.55 million guaranteed at signing and a $31.85 million signing bonus.
The 28-year old’s $35.3 million annual average is second to Philadelphia’s Jalen Carter, who just signed a four-year extension worth $38 million per year.
The Jets received defensive tackle Mazi Smith, a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 first-round selection for Williams. After trading back six slots with Detroit, New York selected Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds at No. 50 in the April draft.
After the trade, Williams amassed 21 tackles, 1.5 sacks, nine quarterback hits and three tackles for loss in seven games played for the Cowboys.
From a team perspective, Dallas reduced its rushing yards allowed per game from 143 before Williams’ arrival to 99.1 in the seven games he played.
The Jets took the Alabama product third overall in the 2019 draft. He earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2022 when he exploded for a dozen sacks.
The four-time Pro Bowler (2022-25) has played in 105 games in seven seasons, recording 343 tackles, 62 tackles for loss, 41.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and a pair of interceptions.
–Field Level Media
Italy’s Jannik Sinner returns to Germany’s Alexander Zverev during their men’s singles final tennis match on the fourteenth day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 12, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)
CINCINNATI — Jannik Sinner, the world’s No. 1 men’s tennis player, withdrew from the Cincinnati Open on Sunday because of a knee injury.
Sinner, who hasn’t competed since capturing his second straight Wimbledon title last month, also withdrew from the tournament in Toronto that began Wednesday.
The 24-year-old Sinner has five Grand Slam titles and just needs to win the French Open to complete the career Grand Slam.
READ: Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic withdraw from Montreal Masters
“After consulting with my doctors and my team, I have to announce that I need to withdraw from the Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati,” the Italian said in a statement released by tournament officials.
“My right knee has been bothering me and even though we have been working hard with my medical team, I have to accept that I’m not ready to compete yet. I’m very disappointed not to be able to play in Cincinnati. I can’t wait to be back next year and I’m now focusing on getting ready for the U.S. Open.”
Sinner’s announcement follows a similar decision by Carlos Alcaraz, who said Tuesday he also was withdrawing from the hard-court event in Cincinnati because of a lingering wrist injury.
READ: Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka lead US Open fields
The absences mean fans in Cincinnati will not see either of the world’s top two players when men’s singles begins Saturday.
Two years ago, Sinner won the title in Cincinnati, which traditionally is one of the last stops before the U.S. Open and serves as a warmup. He then went on to win the U.S. Open.
Last year, Alcaraz dethroned Sinner with a four-set victory in the U.S. Open final. The 23-year-old Spaniard will try to defend his title when the main draw of the tourney begins Aug. 30.
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Nicola Tuthill is through to the Hammer Throw final at Birmingham 2026.
The UCD athlete produced a best effort of 70.09m in qualification to finish fourth in Group B. Her throw placed her in eighth overall, securing her place in Wednesday evening’s final at 7.45pm.
Outside of Tuthill’s success, it was a difficult first evening for Irish athletes at the Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, as Sarah Lavin, Ciara Neville, Abbie Sheridan failed to progress in their respective events.
Nick Griggs was best of the three Irishmen in the 5000m final as he finished in eighth in a time of 13:21.07.
Eric Favors had a best effort of 19.59m in round three of the shot put final, which was won by Leonardo Fabbri of Italy with 22.31m.
Limerick duo Lavin & Neville exit
Limerick’s Sarah Lavin competed in the women’s 100m hurdles on Monday evening. Despite running a season’s best time of 13.07 seconds, the dual Olympian could only manage sixth place in her heat. With the 12 fastest times over the three heats progressing, the 2023 European bronze medallist’s time left her in 15th place, and as a result, did not progress through to the semi-final.
A disappointed Sarah Lavin said after losing out on a semi-final spot:
“I really thought I could get out of the heat here. It’s a season’s best after a turbulent couple of months, and I’m proud I got to the line and delivered my best run of the season, but I want to be in finals.
“I knew I had to be sub-13 to qualify. I’ve gone under 13 seconds 52 times in my life, but my legs just didn’t lift to the same capacity over the last three hurdles. To get back under 13 seconds by the end of the season will be the goal now, and that would be a fantastic building block going into next year and moving towards LA.”
Another Limerick member of the Irish team competing in Birmingham, Ciara Neville, exited the 100m at the semi-final stage this evening. The Emerald AC athlete, who won back-to-back gold medals outdoors over 100m at the 123.ie National Senior Track and Field Championships, ran 11.57 seconds to finish in eighth place in semi-final two – a time which was well outside her PB of 11.31 seconds which she set earlier this year.
Commenting on her performance tonight, Neville said:
“I’m disappointed because I know that I had a better performance in me,” said Neville. “I’ll have to watch it back and see where it went wrong.
“Getting to the semi-final at my first individual senior outdoor championships was the goal, but I wanted to put out a performance in the semi-final. I’ll take from this experience and build on it next time.”
Abbie Sheridan, making her international debut at the European Championships, finished heat 2 of the women’s 3000m steeplechase in fourteenth position, in 9:57.50 – almost 14 seconds outside the Louth woman’s PB for the event.
In what appears to be a setback for Pakistan ahead of the FIH World Cup, the national federation has elevated its goalkeeping coach Bob Johan Veldhof to the position of head coach, after Herman Kruis returned to the Netherlands to continue with his existing assignment.
Just hours before the Pakistan squad departed for the World Cup, the Pakistan Hockey Federation announced that veteran Dutch coach Kruis, who had been originally named head coach, would instead serve as an adviser to the federation, while Veldhof would take charge of the national team.
The PHF had roped in the Dutch duo of Kruis and Veldhof along with Christopher Bowen following the FIH Pro League in Europe in June-July, appointing them as head coach, goalkeeping coach and assistant coach respectively as part of a coaching shakeup.
A reliable source said Kruis had informed the PHF that he would only be able to take up a full-time coaching assignment with the Pakistan team after the World Cup.
“He had left for the Netherlands to continue with his present assignment, but the PHF remained hopeful that he would still be available to the team during the World Cup, which is being held in Belgium and the Netherlands,” the source said.
Eventually, Kruis made it clear that he would not be able to dedicate himself full-time to the Pakistan squad during the tournament, prompting the federation to hand the head coaching responsibilities to Veldhof rather than bring in a former Pakistan player.
Former Pakistan Olympian Farhan Khan is worried that the biggest challenge for Veldoff would be his “lack of experience” as a head coach.
“Veldhof will no doubt be invaluable for our goalkeepers, but his lack of experience as a head coach is a concern. In modern hockey, the head coach calls all the shots with the help of his assistant coaches and video analyst,” Khan said.
The record four-time world champions, Pakistan will now enter the tournament with Veldhof, who was originally recruited specifically to work with the team’s goalkeepers, at the helm of the coaching staff.
Pakistan have been placed in Pool D alongside arch-rivals India, England and Wales.
They will open their campaign against England at the Wagener Stadion in Amstelveen on August 15.
Sixteen teams have been divided into four pools of four, with the top two from each pool advancing to the second round.
The top two teams from each of the two second-round pools will progress to the semifinals, with the winners meeting in the final.
The tournament is being jointly hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15-30.
Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates while playing Diana Shnaider during the quarterfinals on day nine of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers at Sobeys Stadium on August 10, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
Former world number one Iga Swiatek cruised into the Toronto Masters semifinals on Monday, taking just 64 minutes to sweep past Russian Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-1.
Poland’s Swiatek, a six-time Grand Slam champion, reached just her second WTA semifinal this year after Rome and seeks her first final since winning the Korea Open almost a year ago in Seoul.
“From the beginning I went for it. I felt like I could dominate,” Swiatek said. “I was quite happy with the way I played.”
READ: Belinda Bencic fellow supermoms flying high in Toronto
Movement that’s out of this world 🌎 @ElinaSvitolina | #NBO26 pic.twitter.com/8eUF3CgwGC
— wta (@WTA) August 11, 2026
The 25-year-old world number eight from Warsaw will on Wednesday face Ukraine’s ninth-ranked Elina Svitolina, who rallied past 19th-ranked Ekaterina Alexandrova 3-6, 6-0, 6-3.
Svitolina won eight consecutive games in the second and third sets to dispatch her Russian rival in 93 minutes.
Swiatek leads Svitolina 4-3 in their WTA career rivalry but lost both their meetings this year.
“It was a tricky match with the wind,” Swiatek said.
“It was the first chance I had to play in the wind since I got here. I thought I needed to adjust to that. I just wanted to be more solid.”
Swiatek dropped only three points on her first serve and took 11 of 16 points returning Shnaider’s second serves.
Elina Svitolina of Ukraine celebrates match point against Ekaterina Alexandrova during the quarterfinals on day nine of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers at Sobeys Stadium on August 10, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
READ: Iga Swiatek doesn’t care about results after Wimbledon loss to Alex Eala
BEAST MODE 💥@iga_swiatek | #NBO26 pic.twitter.com/ZY9ZOBdIBT
— wta (@WTA) August 11, 2026
Shnaider, a left-hander, swatted a backhand over the baseline to surrender a break in the opening game.
Swiatek took a 5-2 lead, breaking again when Shnaider netted a backhand, and served out to take the first set in 31 minutes.
Swiatek broke for a 2-1 lead in the second when Shnaider netted a forehand. She smashed a forehand winner to break for a 4-1 edge and broke again in the last game when Shnaider sent a forehand long.
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Svitolina sent a backhand long to drop serve to love in the final game of the first set, Alexandrova taking it after 29 minutes with 12 winners to only three by Svitolina.
In the second set, Alexandrova sent a forehand long and netted two backhands to hand Svitolina three breaks.
Svitolina served for the match in the eighth game of the final set but double faulted away a break only to break back to love in the last game, smashing a service return winner to end it.
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