Shakur Stevenson is establishing himself as one of the best in his era, but there is one boxing icon he is glad to have not crossed paths with.

Stevenson is now a four-weight world champion, following his victory over WBO super-lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden in New York last month.

It was a dominant performance from the 28-year-old, as he claimed the unanimous decision victory after all three judges scored the bout 119-109 in his favour.

That triumph at 140lbs has gone alongside his world title reigns at featherweight, super featherweight and lightweight, and as of yet nobody has come close to beating Stevenson, who currently holds an unbeaten record of 25-0.

Despite all of his success, Stevenson has revealed there is a Hall of Fame fighter from the past that he would have been weary of facing.

Posting on social media, Stevenson named four-division world champion Pernell Whitaker as the man in question.

“So happy Sweet Pea didn’t box in our era.”

So happy Sweet Pea didn’t box in our era!!

— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) February 25, 2025

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Just like Stevenson, Whitaker was known for his elite defensive skills, as he won world titles at lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight and light middleweight.

During his peak, he claimed notable wins over the likes of Juan Mazario, Buddy McGirt and Azumah Nelson, and also had a controversial draw with Julio Cesar Chavez Sr, with virtually every onlooker believing that Whitaker should have won.

At the end of his career, ‘Sweet Pea’ also shared the ring with Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad, as his final record stood at 40 wins from 46 fights.

Image credit: Zimbabwe Cricket

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza stressed that reaching the Super 8s was only one milestone in a much bigger journey after his side progressed to the next stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 following a rain-hit fixture against Ireland at the Pallekele International Stadium on Tuesday.The abandoned match earned both teams a point each, taking Zimbabwe to five points in Group B and ending Australia’s hopes of advancing.

“The fact that we’ve qualified for the Super 8s hasn’t changed the ultimate goal that we set out for. Like I said, it’s just a tick in the box, but we have a lot of other goals to achieve and everybody loves an underdog story, don’t they?” Raza said.He reflected on Zimbabwe’s long qualification route, including the sub-regional stage featuring Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania.“I’ll take you back when we played the sub-regional qualifiers B, and we played the Kenya, the Rwanda, Tanzania, and all those teams. And I remember I stood up to my troops and I said, we are in this position or in this mess, as you want to call it, because of us. There’s no one else to blame. And only us that would get this mess clear and only us can get it out of it. So what are we gonna do about it? And we won the qualifiers B, regional sub-regional B, then the main qualifiers happened. We won that as well,” he said.Zimbabwe now enter a challenging Super 8 group alongside defending champions India, 2024 runners-up South Africa and two-time winners West Indies, needing a top-two finish to make the semi-finals.“Yeah, certainly so. Myself and the coach will sit down. We watched Sri Lanka in the last three games as well. We’re going to have the data on them and we try and put our best foot forward and try and win that game. That is the whole point of us being here,” Raza said of their preparation.“I think every condition we find ourselves in, if we can find a day or two to train, I think we’ll sum up the conditions really well and hopefully make those plans. One thing you can’t fight is the weather and conditions. So we try and learn those conditions if we can have two, three training days in a particular city, wherever we’re going to.”Before the Super 8s begin, Zimbabwe will take on co-hosts Sri Lanka in their final group-stage match at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Thursday.

In 2025, Rousey admitted severe concussion problems led to her retirement from MMA.

For long-time MMA fans, Rousey v Carano is the super-fight that never happened, with the latter retiring a few years before her fellow American made her professional debut.

The UFC tried to make the match-up when Rousey was at the height of her powers, but were unable to reach terms.

Rousey has a 12-2 record while 43-year-old Carano is 7-1, with her only loss against Cris Cyborg in her last bout in 2009.

Carano, who became an actor after retiring, said Rousey approached her about the fight.

“Ronda came to me and said there is only one person she would make a comeback for and it has been her dream to make this fight happen between us,” said Carano.

“She thanked me for opening up doors for her in her career and was respectful in asking for this fight to happen.

“This is an honour. I believe I will walk out of this fight with the win and I anticipate it will not come easy, which I welcome.

“This is as much for Ronda and me as it is for the fans and mixed martial arts community. What a time to be alive.”

Carano recently settled a lawsuit with Disney after she was dismissed in 2021 from her role in Star Wars franchise spin-off The Mandalorian following comments she made comparing being a Republican in the US to being a Jew during the Holocaust.

Jake Paul’s promotional outfit, Most Valuable Promotions, will organise the event in its first foray into MMA.

“Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano are the two most formative figures in the history of women’s MMA; they are the icons who shattered the glass ceiling and helped build the foundation this sport stands on,” said Paul and Nakisa Bidarian in a joint statement.

“MVP’s conviction in women’s boxing was driven by the success achieved by Ronda Rousey, who was the biggest star of the entire sport of MMA during her career.”

More than 60,000 fans packed Allegiant Stadium on Night 2 of WrestleMania 41 with the buzz of the first night still filling the air and the anticipation that anything could happen on the highly anticipated WWE event of the year.

WWE star Randy Orton slithered around the ring, awaiting his opponent. It could have been anybody as the former champion was left without an opponent. But that night in Las Vegas was something special. Not only for Orton who was making his 20th WrestleMania appearance, but for the man who walked through the curtain and onto the entrance ramp.

“Say his name and he appears.”

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Joe Hendry makes his entrance during WrestleMania 41 Sunday at Allegiant Stadium on April 20, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Craig Melvin/WWE via Getty Images)

Every pro wrestling fan in the house knew who was coming out. It could only be one person.

“I believe in Joe Hendry.”

Then the Total Nonstop Action (TNA) world champion, Hendry’s appearance was a perennial moment for the sport. It was the first time a TNA contracted superstar appeared at WrestleMania. And it just went to show that a viral push from pro wrestling fans could go a long way.

“It was an unbelievable moment,” Hendry recalled to Fox News Digital. “I think that is a moment that is even beyond your wildest dreams. There are moments where you have to go, ‘Is this a dream? Walking out at WrestleMania?’ I remember walking, being backstage, seeing the vignette marking 20 years of Randy Orton at WrestleMania, and for me to be the opponent and the surprise opponent, it was just such a perfect moment. And I’m so grateful.”

It was about seven months after his WrestleMania appearance when Hendry was no longer a TNA wrestler, but he was a WWE superstar. He was thrust onto the NXT roster, already having familiarity with the rising stars who were on the brand.

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Hendry quickly made a name for himself. The Scottish star may have lost his opportunity to get a title shot in the Iron Survivor Challenge at NXT Deadline but he redeemed himself earlier this month.

The Scottish wrestler won a ladder match over Dion Lennox, Jackson Drake, Keanu Carver, Ricky Saints, Sean Legacy and Shiloh Hill to capture the vacated NXT Championship.

Joe Hendry celebrates his win during NXT at the WWE Performance Center on Feb. 3, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. (Matt Pendleton/WWE via Getty Images)

“It means the world,” he said of being the NXT champion. “It’s very humbling that with the amount of talented people that we have working in the Performance Center and on NXT that I’m the person who has the privilege to be the champion and to represent the brand. It’s a surreal feeling, but it’s a responsibility that I take very seriously and I want to deliver for NXT.”

Hendry took the road less traveled to become a pro wrestler.

Inspired by WWE video games, Hendry told Fox News Digital he became “totally obsessed” with the sport as he watched pro wrestlers from the Attitude Era and earlier compete. He homed in on the other things that make pro wrestlers go from backyard tweeners to immortal icons like the ring gear, vignettes, entrance songs and the like.

Hendry had gold medals in freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling before his career really took off. He competed in Inane Championship Wrestling in Scotland before moving around to Discovery Wrestling and New Generation Wrestling. He had appearances in Ring of Honor and World of Sport Wrestling before getting to Impact Wrestling, which later returned to its original name of TNA.

But when did Joe Hendry start to believe in Joe Hendry?

“I remember when I got my black belt in judo, that was really the first thing that I finished to completion in my life,” he said. “I’d started a lot of things and stopped them. And when I did that, I was like wow, I achieved the goal. Then after that point, I realized that for a lot of people, the difficult part is they get so close and just to push it over the line, I think as human beings, that’s something we all find difficult, but sometimes you need to give yourself permission to win and go take it all the way to the finish.

“Thankfully, that’s what I was able to do in the ladder match and become NXT champion.”

Joe Hendry during the Men’s Royal Rumble match during the WWE Royal Rumble at Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 1, 2025. (Joe Camporeale/Imagn Images)

Hendry now sits on top of the NXT roster as the champion and the face of the brand. But he’s not the only Scotsman who is doing that on the WWE roster.

Drew McIntyre is the undisputed WWE champion as he gets ready to defend his title at WrestleMania 42.

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“It was Drew that said to me that Scotland is 0.068% of the world’s population, but we have a much larger percentage of WWE titles. So, very proud to be someone that’s worked with Drew. The way that people talk about the Undertaker in the locker room, that’s how we saw Drew McIntyre when we were on the independents. He was our Undertaker and so to see him now as undisputed WWE champion and for me to be NXT champion at the same time is an amazing feeling. He challenged me when we worked together. He always made me better and brought out the best in me. So, I’d be delighted if our paths could cross again.”

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Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has been impressed by interim boss Michael Carrick and made his feelings clear on his future

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Wayne Rooney believes that Champions League-winning manager Luis Enrique should not be appointed as the new Manchester United boss, instead advocating for former teammate Michael Carrick to remain in charge. The United legend argues that the club has previously pursued the strategy of hiring high-profile managers, with PSG’s Enrique currently linked to the vacant managerial role.

However, Rooney is of the opinion that Carrick has already demonstrated his ability to bridge the gap between the first team and the academy, a hallmark of United’s ethos. The Class of ’92 represented the club’s golden era, and since then, the club has consistently nurtured talent capable of performing at the highest level.

Carrick assumed the role of caretaker manager at United following Ruben Amorim’s sacking earlier this year, and is expected to manage first-team responsibilities until the season concludes. To date, Carrick has overseen five Premier League matches, securing victories in four, including significant triumphs over Arsenal and Man City, and drawing the remaining match against West Ham United.

The ex-United midfielder has reintegrated Kobbie Mainoo into the squad after he fell out of favour under Amorim, leaving his future at Old Trafford uncertain. Since rejoining the team, the England international has performed admirably, with Rooney commending Carrick for facilitating this reconnection.

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Speaking on The Overlap, Rooney commented: “We talk about Luis Enrique and stuff. And I think [United have] been there and tried different managers, between Mourinho and Van Gaal, then we saw the likes of Ten Hag and Amorim, which don’t work.

“I just think for me, it kind of makes sense [to stick with Carrick]. I felt that from the minute he was mentioned of going in, not because, obviously we played together and we’re friends, I just think he’s a real calming influence.

“I’ve got two boys in the academy, I’ve spoke about this a lot, there was a massive disconnect from the academy and the first team. Whether people say that’s right or wrong, and immediately, what we’ve seen is this connection come back together, which Man United was known for.

“It was known to be a family club, and Michael’s done that actually in a very short period of time, where we’re seeing the first team coaches at the academy games, and there’s a real interest in the academy.”

The United legend believed the Reds ought to have done more to bring former players into the structure and draw upon their understanding of the club.

Rooney continued: “I was there with Michael, our boys in the same academy team, and we used to sit in the car and have a sleep in the car park, the two of us.

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“[You have] two players that were very experienced, that know the football club. Just even someone to come out and say ‘can we have 10 minutes with you to just have a word, just to see what you feel about the football club.

“And I really believe – people might agree, might disagree greater – having someone in there who knows the club, cares the club, it makes a big difference.”

Tommy Hearns faced each of his fellow four kings – Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Marvin Hagler – during his 67-fight professional career, but one of them was on another level when it came to punching power.

‘The Hitman’ was considered a monstrous puncher himself, scoring 48 stoppages in 61 victories, before ending his prolific campaign as a five-division world champion.

Down at welter and super-welterweight, the American boasted a significant height and reach advantage over the majority of his opponents, including Leonard and Duran.

Against Leonard, though, Hearns suffered a 14th-round stoppage defeat in 1981, albeit in a closely-fought battle, before rematching his rival at super-middleweight in 1989.

On that occasion, many felt Hearns was unfortunate to come away with a draw, though he would nonetheless claim the WBO title at 168lbs in his following outing.

His encounter with Duran, meanwhile, came in 1984, when the knockout specialist orchestrated a second-round finish to retain his WBC super-welterweight title.

But despite Duran – who supposedly once knocked out a horse – being known as ‘Hands of Stone’, it was actually Hagler who gave Hearns a sterner test in the power department.

The pair collided in a thrilling three-round middleweight contest in 1985, with Hagler ultimately emerging from their iconic battle as the unified world champion.

Speaking with Marko Boxing nearly four decades later, Hearns still regards ‘Marvelous’ as the most formidable puncher he ever came up against.

“Marvin Hagler was [in] a different class [to] Roberto Duran. I think Marvin was the hardest puncher [I fought].”

Given that Hagler was a natural middleweight, whereas Duran typically campaigned in the lower divisions, it is perhaps unsurprising that Hearns arrived at this conclusion.

Medhi Benatia has made a dramatic U-turn at Marseille amid reported tensions with former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood

Medhi Benatia has performed a dramatic about-turn and will stay at Marseille just days after announcing his departure. The French club’s sporting director, who has reportedly had disagreements with former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood, made his exit official following Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Strasbourg, but club owner Frank McCourt has declared he will be remaining.

The 38-year-old revealed via Instagram that he would be leaving the club, having handed in his resignation before Roberto De Zerbi’s departure. However, McCourt, through a press release, has confirmed he is going nowhere and will take on expanded duties that will see him supervising “the entirety of sporting activities.”

It has been a turbulent and somewhat catastrophic few weeks for Marseille with back-to-back 3-0 losses in the Champions League seeing them finish outside the top 32. They have also failed to win in three Ligue 1 matches which included a 5-0 thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain and surrendering a two-goal advantage against Strasbourg.

Supporter demonstrations have also occurred in the past week with De Zerbi’s departure and the absence of clear direction leading to fans choosing not to be in the Stade Velodrome for kick-off this past weekend. Benatia remaining could help restore some stability to the club particularly as they continue searching for a new head coach.

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However, the former Roma centre-back has been embroiled in a controversy involving Greenwood. Despite being hailed as the club’s standout player and receiving public support from De Zerbi, it has been reported in France that he had a falling out with Benatia.

French publication L’Equipe has alleged that the pair were not on speaking terms, with Benatia criticising Greenwood’s conduct both on and off the pitch.

The report suggested that the club chief was irritated by the 24-year-old disregarding commercial obligations without concern for potential repercussions. Given these allegations, it seems unlikely that Greenwood will be pleased with Benatia retaining his position and gaining more influence within the club.

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One player likely to welcome the surprising reversal is Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri. It’s understood that Benatia played a crucial role in negotiating the loan deal alongside president Pablo Longori.

The exact reasons behind Benatia’s change of heart remain unclear, but it appears that drastic action would have been taken based on his departure statement.

Part of his announcement said: “I sense a growing dissatisfaction, a breakdown in communication that I deeply regret. In Marseille, results are the only true measure.

“You know my frankness and transparency. Therefore, given the tensions surrounding the management, I have indeed submitted (not offered) my resignation, because in my opinion, the club will always come before individuals, and I do not want my presence to become an obstacle or a burden to the organisation and its development.

“I leave with the feeling of having done my utmost professionally, but with the regret of not having been able to calm the atmosphere around the team, which, in my opinion, is more than capable of achieving the set objectives.”

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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.