Nick Ball has insisted he is “most comfortable” against taller opponents, as he prepares to fight Brandon Figueroa on Saturday.

Ball will headline in front of a home crowd in Liverpool, defending the WBA featherweight title at M&S Bank Arena. And, not for the first time, the diminutive brawler will be the shorter boxer as he takes on his American challenger.

The pair tipped the scales on Friday, with Ball (23-0-1) weighing in at 125.1lb after Figueroa (26-2-1) came in at 124.1lb.

After their successful weigh-ins, 28-year-old Ball said: “One more sleep and then it’s go time. We’ll find out tomorrow, but it’s gonna be an exciting one, that’s for sure […] All action from the first bell.”

Addressing the height difference, which sees the 5ft 9in Figueroa loom somewhat over the 5ft 2in Ball, the latter said: “It’s nothing new to me, to be honest with you. It’s where I’m most comfortable, so I can’t wait for it.”

And on the fight being his third title defence in Liverpool, Ball said: “Yeah, it’s special times, and I wouldn’t be here today without everyone who’s been supporting me from day one, so it means everything to me. I appreciate it.”

Meanwhile, 29-year-old Figueroa addressed the pair’s long, intense face-off from moments before, saying: “I’m just ready, I’m just leting him know that I’m ready and that belt’s coming home with me.

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“This is the best version of Brandon you guys are gonna see. Of course [it will be a firefight], I’m coming with everything, and I plan to leave it all in the ring.

“I’ve got my family with me, my team. We’re ready, I’ve got the whole backing of the valley, 956. I’m just ready, man.”

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Figueroa was addressing his Texan upbringing, before he acknowledged his Mexican parentage by delivering a message in Spanish. But he signed off in English: “And the new.”

If Figueroa pulls off the victory on Saturday, he will become a three-time world champion, having previously held the WBA Regular and WBC super-bantamweight titles, as well as the WBC featherweight belt.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Photo by @BCCI on X)

NEW DELHI: Teen cricket prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stole the show in India’s U-19 World Cup final on Friday, smashing a breathtaking 175 off just 80 balls to guide India to a 100-run win over England and a record-extending sixth title. After the match, he dedicated his Player of the Final award to the team’s support staff.“I can’t express what I am feeling but the way we have all been working hard for the last 7-8 months and our support staff who have been with us for a long time and always made sure we are alright, I would like to dedicate the award to them,” Sooryavanshi said.

“For the last eight to nine months, the support staff and the team have been working together. That preparation has played a huge role in getting us to where we are today.”The 14-year-old became the first player in U-19 World Cup history to win both the Player of the Final and Player of the Tournament awards. His innings included 15 sixes and 15 fours, and he reached the fastest 150 in Under-19 cricket in just 71 balls, propelling India to a commanding 411 for 9 after winning the toss.England fought valiantly, with Caleb Falconer scoring a 115 off 67 balls, but regular wickets prevented them from keeping up with the required rate. They were eventually bowled out for 311, handing India a dominant victory.Sooryavanshi, who had already made waves in last year’s Indian Premier League, now holds the record for the highest individual score in any ICC tournament final, further cementing his reputation as one of cricket’s brightest young talents.This remarkable performance not only secured India’s sixth U-19 World Cup title but also showcased the impact of preparation, teamwork, and raw talent on the world stage.

Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr after leaving Manchester United in December 2022, becoming the best-paid player in football history with an annual salary of £177m.

The club, who have won 10 Saudi Pro League titles, called the signing “history in the making” but Ronaldo has only won the Arab Club Champions Cup in 2023 since the move.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner signed a new two-year contract in June 2025.

Both Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal – the country’s most successful club with 19 league titles – are among the teams controlled by the PIF, which also backs Newcastle United.

BBC Sport has been told former Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema’s move to league leaders Al-Hilal from Al‑Ittihad earlier this week was the principle reason for Ronaldo’s frustration at Al-Nassr.

French striker Benzema, 38, scored a hat-trick on his debut for Al-Hilal in a 6-0 win over Al-Okhdood on Thursday.

Al-Nassr are third in the league, four points behind leaders Al-Hilal.

Colts legends Reggie Wayne and Frank Gore were among the 11 Pro Football Hall of Fame modern-day player finalists on this year’s ballot who won’t be sporting gold jackets at this summer’s induction ceremony. And from the looks of next year’s potential first-time ballot members, the pair may very well remain on the outside of the Hall for a bit longer.

Longtime Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri – arguably the best kicker in NFL history – was among the five members voted to make up the Class of 2026, unveiled Thursday night during the NFL Honors ceremony. The Class’s other modern-day players included Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly. Vinatieri and Kuechly were voted in on their second years of eligibility, with Brees and Fitzgerald joining the esteemed list of first-ballot Hall of Famers.

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Gore, along with Brees, Fitzgerald and longtime Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, was in his first year of eligibility for the Hall. Wayne, on the other hand, was tied this year with fellow star wideout Torry Holt for being a finalist the most times (7) without being voted into the Hall. Wayne has been a finalist in each of his seven years of eligibility.

But he continues to struggle to break the threshold – particularly with the Hall’s new more exclusive voting process. Under the new Pro Football Hall of Fame voting rules, each year a group of 25 (and ties) of semifinalists is whittled down to 15 finalists, and that group then shrinks through subsequent rounds of voting to 10 and then seven. The Hall’s pool of 50 voters have five picks among that pool of seven modern-day players, and the top-three vote-getters will be inducted into the Hall of Fame with as many as two more players able to join the group if they garner 80% of the vote.

Longtime Colts beat writer Mike Chappell, who is on the Hall’s voting committee as the Indianapolis-area representative, lifted the curtain a bit on X Thursday night regarding how the voting process went this time around. Wayne, he said, did not make the first cut-down from 15 to 10, meaning, at best, he remains the seventh-highest returning vote-getter for next year with Vinatieri, Brees, Fitzgerald and Kuechly off the list.

Gore, according to Chappell, made the cut-down to 10, but was not among the seven ‘final’ finalists who were among the Hall-deciding vote. The three ex-players from that final seven who weren’t voted into this year’s class – Bengals tackle Willie Anderson, Ravens edge rusher Terrell Suggs and Ravens offensive lineman Marshal Yanda – will automatically advance to become finalists for the Class of 2027.

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Those who made the initial cut from 15 finalists down to 10, according to Chappell, included the aforementioned seven plus Gore, Witten and Cowboys safety Darren Woodson.

After last year’s 3-9 campaign, Colorado football has played 136 seasons, dating back to 1890.

The Buffs have compiled a record of 735–556–36 (.577) through the 2025 season.

The program ranks 27th on the all-time win list and 40th in all-timewinning percentage.

Colorado also has two Heisman Trophy winners in Rashaan Salaam (1994) and Travis Hunter (2024).

Since the program’s initial season, the Buffaloes have appeared in 29 bowl games, winning 27 conference championships, five division championships, and an AP National Championship in 1990.

Planet Red, the Caulfield Guineas placegetter, prepares for his seasonal reappearance in a high-class Stakes race at Caulfield.

On Saturday, the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) stands as Planet Red’s singular foray before the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington set for February 28.

Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s charge, a three-year-old gelding, was last seen placing second to Autumn Boy during the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in October.

With three prior Australian Guineas triumphs under his belt, Price admitted Planet Red was drained following his Caulfield Guineas exertions.

“He had five weeks off after the Caulfield Guineas,” Price said.

“When he went into the Caulfield Guineas, he only had a certain amount of energy left in him, but we got it to come together in the last two weeks before that race and he ran super.

“He had five weeks off, but I haven’t got enough horse to do the Space Rider prep.

“Space Rider is going to have three runs into the Australian Guineas, but I’m going to take a punt on Planet Red. He runs in the 1400 metres and then it is three weeks to the Guineas.

“He has improved a little bit as a gelding, but it’s a quick turnaround from the spring.”

Space Rider placed 11th when last facing the Caulfield Guineas field and resumed winning the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield January 26.

His trajectory leads to the Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington a week from Saturday.

Price’s Australian Guineas ledger shines with Light Fantastic (2008), Heart Of Dreams (2009), Grunt (2018) victories, plus Tarzino’s near-miss against Palentino in 2016 where the protest failed.

Teaming with Kent Jnr, Price eyes his first joint Guineas score.

“The Australian Guineas has been good to me,” Price said.

“Planet Red will be pretty cherry ripe come the Australian Guineas and I think he’ll run well.”

Those keen on the Autumn Stakes action have plenty of options in the racing betting markets to consider for Planet Red’s performance.

The post Caulfield return for Guineas hope first appeared on Just Horse Racing.