Shakur Stevenson is no longer WBC Lightweight World Champion.

The 28 year old from Newark won the vacant WBC strap back in November of 2023 with a victory over Edwin De Los Santos. Despite becoming champion in a third division that night, his performance was widely criticised as too safety-first.

In his first defence, the only fight he had in 2024, Stevenson put on a similar showing against Artem Harutyunyan before stopping late replacement Josh Padley in February 2025. His stock rose significantly when taking on pressure fighter William Zepeda that July, retaining the belt for a third time in a much more fan-friendly affair.

This past weekend, the defensive master moved up to super-lightweight to challenge Teofimo Lopez, winning all but one round on the scorecards in a truly elite performance.

Though his next move is undecided – he has been discussing yet another jump up to compete at welterweight – what is now clear is that he won’t be defending the WBC belt at 135lbs. The sanctioning body today released the following statement:

“On January 31, 2026, WBC World Lightweight Champion Shakur Stevenson gave a brilliant performance to defeat WBO World Super Lightweight Champion Teofimo López. Champion Stevenson is now a 4-time World Champion; a feat achieved by a few boxers in history. Among those boxers we find Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Canelo Alvarez and Terrence Crawford.

“Throughout his career, Champion Stevenson has maintained a historic and extraordinarily successful relationship with the WBC. His ascent to the top began in January 2019, when he captured the WBC Continental Americas title; signaling the start of a career destined for greatness.

“In 2022, Stevenson solidified his elite status by defeating Oscar Valdez to become the WBC Super Featherweight Champion. Subsequently, in 2023, he moved up to the lightweight division to claim the Green and Gold belt; a title he defended with pride and technical mastery on three consecutive occasions.

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“In light of Champion Stevenson now being the reigning WBO Super Lightweight World Champion and consistent with the WBC Rules & Regulations, the WBC has declared vacant its Lightweight World title.

“The WBC wishes Champion Stevenson continued success in all his future endeavors, both inside and outside the ring.

“The WBC will provide further information regarding the process to crown a new Lightweight World Champion in the near future.”

Stevenson may consider sticking around at 140lbs to defend his newly won WBO strap, though he seems focused more on major names rather than mandatories. Post-fight, as well as targetting Conor Benn at 147, he has named Isaac Cruz as a potential opponent, while also saying he would be willing to face Devin Haney.

Clayton Douglas’ charge Kaye Jay has made giant strides since entering his stable for the first serious test.

Following the gelding’s initial triumph at Sandown, the handler is mulling over a tilt at the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) scheduled for Morphettville in May.

Kaye Jay ($5), on just his second start, secured a decisive three-quarter length success in the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Plate on Wednesday, edging out Mr Independent ($9.50) with Butterscotch ($15) just a long neck behind in third.

“This horse has taken leaps and bounds from the time he arrived,” Douglas said.

“I think he got beaten 20 or 30 lengths in his first ever jump-out. He was completely hopeless, but he has taken that improvement, and you like to see that in three-year-olds, especially staying types.

“I haven’t had to train him up too much this time, he’s got there himself and to run well at his first start and then win at his second, he can definitely go forward.”

Sandown Hillside Race 1 | Kaye Jay

After finishing 2nd on debut, the @c_douglasracing 3YO goes one better, stepping up to a mile in town 👊🏻

📺 Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/HEhdpozFmy pic.twitter.com/80TO3LInFc

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— Racing.com (@Racing) February 4, 2026

The gelding notched a runner-up finish at Cranbourne in his debut last month, and he patently enjoyed the roomy layout at Sandown come Wednesday.

Douglas started off dissatisfied with Kaye Jay’s wide post position, though jockey Jamie Mott navigated him to a prime location.

According to Douglas, the sharp pace upfront handed Mott the opportunity to slot in before it moderated.

Extending beyond Wednesday’s 1600m distance excites Douglas, who sees Kaye Jay evolving into a top four- or five-year-old stayer.

“I would like to think he could be an Adelaide Derby type,” Douglas said.

“He’s a big, strong horse.

“With the facilities (of owner Barb and Barry Saunders) at Deniston Park, we can chop and change things with the Mornington stable.

“He’s a horse with plenty of substance there and when he gets out to those staying trips he should really come into his own.”

Enthusiasts eyeing Kaye Jay’s South Australian Derby prospects should review the leading racing betting markets available now.

The post Clayton Douglas has SA Derby dreams with Sandown winner first appeared on Just Horse Racing.

Pep Guardiola’s claim to greatness stems from much more than just the Carabao Cup but a man who has won much else is now one victory away from being out on his own as the most successful manager in its history. Only the ally turned enemy, Mikel Arteta, who was by his side for the first two of his four Wembley triumphs in this competition, can deny him a fifth, which would take him clear of Brian Clough, Jose Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson.

Newcastle could not halt him. Their defence of their first major trophy since 1969 ended with a whimper. Their chances of a comeback were all but ended inside seven minutes, gone completely after 32 minutes and snuffed out in part by the goalkeeper they forever try to buy. They were dispatched from the competition by a much-weakened Manchester City side.

Even as Guardiola gave Erling Haaland 70 minutes of rest, he had the ideal alternative. Some 42 percent of Omar Marmoush’s City goals have been against Newcastle, even if his double came in distinctly fortunate fashion. Newcastle had no such luck, no potency when it mattered. Wembley glory last year came courtesy of Alexander Isak but the Swede is gone and so, now, is their trophy. Anthony Gordon, their outstanding individual over 180 minutes in the 2025 semi-final against Arsenal, limped off. It was another indication of how times have changed.

The sad reality for Newcastle is that City progressed while prioritising Sunday’s trip to Liverpool. Rodri, Rayan Cherki, the fit-again Ruben Dias and Gianluigi Donnarumma joined Haaland on the bench, though Guardiola ended up summoning three of them for the last 20 minutes. The injured Bernardo Silva was not even a replacement. Nico O’Reilly stood in as a midfielder, as he had done at St James’ Park three weeks ago, and again impressed.

And much of the hard work was done on Tyneside. In the rematch, their task was to avoid a repeat of Sunday. City had squandered a 2-0 lead over Tottenham. They entered this game with the same advantage, and produced a very different outcome.

They were soon ahead. Minus Haaland, Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo were the spearheads of a 4-2-2-2 formation. Each was prominent from the off.

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For his first goal, as Dan Burn tackled Marmoush, the ball ricocheted in off the Egyptian. There may have been something symbolic in that: Burn scored the towering header in last season’s final and now, in his defensive duties, he inadvertently contributed to City leading.

Marmoush’s second came courtesy of Kieran Trippier, in attempting to clear Semenyo’s low cross, only succeeded in spooning the ball up in the air. Marmoush headed it over the line from a yard.

Semenyo, scorer of the first in the first leg, played a part in two goals in the second. When Burn tackled him, the ball fell for Tijjani Reijnders to finish. The Dutchman should have scored a second from a similar position, though, at that stage, it would have felt cruel to score City’s sixth of the tie.

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Because Newcastle’s hopes had been snuffed out by a man invariably on their wishlist. Eddie Howe targets James Trafford every summer. The goalkeeper demonstrated why. Fine saves from Joe Willock, Gordon and Trippier, all at 1-0, denied United an equaliser on the night. He later denied Sven Botman in what was probably the finest display of his City career and, even without getting the reward of a clean sheet, pressed his case to play at Wembley.

If Guardiola’s selection choices worked, Howe’s did not. He had used a back three to considerable success in last season’s semi-final against Arsenal. Repeating that strategy backfired. Despite Newcastle’s many defenders, they were caught on the break for City’s second and third goals.

When Howe made a triple attacking change, the opportunities Newcastle fashioned should leave them with regrets they were not more positive from the off. Yoane Wissa missed a terrific chance with his first touch.

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But, some 32 games into his Newcastle career, Anthony Elanga finally scored his first goal, after a terrific solo run. The former Manchester United winger’s name was chorused by the travelling Tynesiders and he ought to have had a second. Harvey Barnes also looked a threat.

It prompted Guardiola to send for Rodri, Cherki and Haaland and, from the Frenchman’s pass, the Norwegian had a shot tipped on to the post by Aaron Ramsdale. It spared Newcastle further punishment but this was a familiar outcome. They have lost their last 12 games at the Etihad Stadium, conceding 40 goals.

Some of the City faithful still stayed away. The empty seats were referenced in taunts by the Newcastle fans. Perhaps their City counterparts were saving their money for Wembley. They will go there, to face Arsenal and Arteta.

The filly Scintillation’s connections, impressed by her pedigree, are weighing up a wide draw entry into the Lonhro Plate against opting for a milder midweek target.

Bred from superstar sire I Am Invincible and out of stakes mare Minhaaj, she has trialled effectively on two occasions in the lead-up to her race debut, potentially now shifted due to copping the outside gate 13 in Saturday’s Listed feature.

“I’m not sure if she will run yet. There are a couple of options next week we want to think about,” co-trained Tom Charlton said.

“She’s a very sharp filly. Not the biggest but very strong and her trials have been sharp so we will look for her running well whenever she does.”

Her dam dominated her first pair of starts at two, highlighted by success in the Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) on Flemington’s track, later collecting additional elite honours with John O’Shea.

Charlton, then part of his co-trainer’s team, highlighted likenesses between the filly and her parent.

“Minhaaj probably had a little bit more size, but she has thrown a very good first foal,” he said.

“There are a lot of similarities in the sense of their strength.

“We’d obviously love to achieve some black type for connections. She is a valuable proposition. We’re still learning about her, but her trials are indicative that she could do that.”

Intent on debuting their exciting three-year-old Napoleonic in the Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m), the stable faces quality rivals but Charlton looks forward to testing him.

“Tempted is arguably the best 1200-metre three-year-old and she brings extremely good form, and Wodeton has good form and gets in very well at the weights getting two-and-a-half kilos off us,” he said.

“But we couldn’t be happier with our fellow. He is a really nice horse and I’m sure he will run very well.”

The racing betting markets are heating up ahead of the Eskimo Prince Stakes showdown.

A field of eight has been accepted for the Eskimo Prince with Everest runner-up Tempted an odds-on favourite.

The post Napoleonic could be stable’s lone Randwick flagbearer first appeared on Just Horse Racing.

Kun Khalifat FC have announced their withdrawal from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) following sanctions imposed on the club for failing to honour a league fixture.

In an official statement dated February 3, 2026, the club owner said the decision was taken with “great disappointment and frustration” after the NPFL penalised the club for missing their Matchday 24 game against El-Kanemi Warriors.

According to the NPFL, Kun Khalifat FC breached the league’s Framework and Rules by failing to honour the fixture played on Monday, February 2, 2026. The league handed the club a three-point and three-goal forfeiture, awarded to El-Kanemi Warriors, and imposed a ₦10 million fine, which is suspended for the rest of the season if no similar offence occurs. The club was also given 48 hours to appeal the decision.

Reacting to the punishment, the club owner described the sanctions as “outrageous and disproportionate,” insisting that valid reasons were provided for missing the match but were rejected by the league.

“The punishment handed down to us is not only unacceptable but a clear indication that the league’s management is more interested in penalising clubs than fostering growth and development,” the statement read.

The club accused the NPFL of bias, lack of transparency, and prioritising revenue over the welfare of clubs, adding that continued participation under such conditions was no longer possible.

“We cannot continue to be part of a system that disregards the well-being of its member clubs and prioritises punishment over fairness and justice,” the statement added.

Kun Khalifat FC also called on other clubs to demand reforms and greater accountability within the league, while thanking fans, players, and stakeholders for their support.

However, confusion has surrounded the withdrawal announcement. The statement has not been posted on the club’s official Facebook page. Instead, Kun Khalifat FC shared match graphics promoting their upcoming NPFL fixture against Shooting Stars, scheduled for Sunday, February 4, 2026, at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.

As of the time of filing this report, the NPFL has not officially responded to the club’s withdrawal claim, leaving uncertainty over Kun Khalifat FC’s status in the league.

Shakur Stevenson has reacted to the news that he has been stripped of his WBC Lightweight World title.

The 28-year-old pound-for-pound star moved up to super-lightweight this past weekend to relieve Teofimo Lopez of his WBO belt, putting in a truly exceptional performance to win almost every round on the scorecards.

Moving back down to lightweight is an option for the now four-division world champion, but if he does so, he will not be a champion there. In a statement released today, the WBC announced that the title Stevenson won back in November of 2023 has now been declared vacant.

“In light of Champion Stevenson now being the reigning WBO Super Lightweight World Champion and consistent with the WBC Rules & Regulations, the WBC has declared vacant its Lightweight World title.

“The WBC wishes Champion Stevenson continued success in all his future endeavors, both inside and outside the ring.

“The WBC will provide further information regarding the process to crown a new Lightweight World Champion in the near future.”

Despite the well wishes, Stevenson did not take the decision kindly. Responding on social media shortly after the announcement, he said:

“And I just paid these dudes after my last fight… What the hell [am I] giving y’all 100k right now for? Because y’all got beef with Bud so come at me for it.”

“100k to some crooks who don’t deserve it? Nah Leilani I rather give it to you baby girl… The WBC didn’t even have s–t to do with this fight and it’s eating them alive. Take your belt it don’t make me.”

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Stevenson refers to the WBC’s recent run-in with Terence Crawford – a close friend, mentor and training partner – who was stripped of his own green and gold super-middleweight belt for, according to the sanctioning body, not paying the relevant fees. Crawford, who had won the title alongside the three other major straps by beating Canelo Alvarez, retired shortly after, but not before delivering a scathing rant on the WBC.

Stevenson’s next move remains up in the air, though pushing for another title with the World Boxing Council may be out of the question.

The Dallas Mavericks pulled another big one, trading away Anthony Davis to the Washington Wizards. They sent the 10-time All-Star to the capital along with Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum.

In exchange, they received Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham, Marvin Bagley III, 2 first-round picks and 3 second-round picks. The Mavs now have some draft capital to work with in other trades or if they want to rebuild around their young star Cooper Flagg.

Here is an updated depth chart for the Wizards with their latest additions:

The Wizards(13-36) are in 14th place in the Western Conference standings and have a low chance of making the playoffs this season. Tanking is a better option for them, given that they have resources to build around their young core.

Anthony Davis now has an opportunity to start fresh and redeem himself after having an injury-prone season with the Mavericks. He played only 20 games while averaging 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists on 50.8% shooting.

Why did the Mavericks trade Anthony Davis to the Wizards?

The Mavericks’ trading Anthony Davis raises a few eyebrows, given that the 10-time All-Star was a significant piece that Dallas received in the Luka Doncic trade. The Mavs most likely traded away Davis to start a new era in Dallas centered around their young star, Cooper Flagg.

Apart from Anthony Davis, the trade involved Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum, all key rotational players in Jason Kidd’s team. Sending them away signals a fresh start.

The Mavs traded away more veteran players and received more younger players. Jaden Hardy (23) was the only player below 25 years old to leave Dallas, while Khris Middleton (34) is the only player above 30 years old to arrive in Dallas as a part of the trade. The trade also had positive financial implications for the team.

NBA insider Bobby Marks listed the trade benefits for the Mavericks in a tweet on Wednesday.

“The Mavericks now have the resources, starting with a likely lottery pick (and a late first) and financial/roster resources to build their roster around Cooper Flagg,” Marks wrote. “Dallas has $150M in guaranteed money next year, well below the tax and apron. For this season, Dallas drops below the luxury tax and both aprons. They have flexibility in the next 24 hours to continue building up their draft assets.”

The Mavericks (19-31) are in 12th place in the West standings and have a low chance of making the playoffs this season. So, building for the future is the best possible option they could have gone for in their current position.