Anthony Joshua was back to a more familiar weight as he sidestepped questions about Tyson Fury ahead of his return to the ring against Kristian Prenga.
Joshua tipped the scales at 251lbs – more than 11lbs lighter than Albanian fighter Prenga (261.4lbs) – in Saudi Arabia after being weight-restricted in his last fight against Youtuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in December.
The former two-weight champion weighed in at 252.5lbs for his previous fight against Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
Joshua must win in Jeddah on Saturday night to secure a potential heavyweight blockbuster against Fury, who secured his side of the bargain by stopping veteran Polish fighter Mariusz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand, on Friday.
The 36-year-old managed to dodge questions about Fury after the weigh-in by grabbing the DAZN microphone and orchestrating back and forth cheers between the British and Albanian fans.
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“We’re feeling good,” said Joshua, who is back in action for the first time since he was involved in a car crash in Nigeria which killed close friends Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele and Sina Ghami just days after the Paul fight.
“It’s going down tomorrow night in Jeddah. Let’s go people. Big up everyone for coming out. Tomorrow will be good.”
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn said: “The work’s done. It’s not going to be easy because this isn’t a guy (Prenga) with a bundle of defeats and coming here for a payday.
“He’s got the whole country behind him by the sound of things as well.
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“It’s going to be a great atmosphere, a big fight and a big opportunity.
“We know what comes the other side, but we’re not looking at that because we’ve got to deal with this guy.”
Italy will appoint legendary midfielder Andrea Pirlo as the country’s new manager, according to local reports.
Pirlo was a key part of Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning side and played for Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus in a gloried playing career. He also coached Juventus, as well as Sampdoria and Turkish side Fatih Karagumruk, before his current role in charge of Dubai United.
Pirlo will sign a four-year contract, taking him to the 2030 World Cup, Italian publication La Repubblica reported.
Italian football is facing one of its deepest crises in decades, and the appointment of a new national team coach is seen as the first step in a wider effort to rebuild a youth development and talent pathway system that has deteriorated significantly in a country where football remains a national obsession.
Italian football federation president Giovanni Malago had confirmed talks with Guardiola were underway this week. The former Manchester City manager had been in talks with the Italian Football Federation over the role, but rejected the position due to “personal reasons that go beyond football”, Sky Italy reported.
Guardiola said before his City exit that he wasn’t planning on taking a new job “for a while”, citing a lack of “energy” – just as his rival Jurgen Klopp said when he departed Liverpool. Klopp, 59, was on Friday unveiled as the new head coach of Germany, which is his first managerial position since leaving Liverpool two years ago. Klopp has said he feels “recharged”.
Klopp, meanwhile, has signed a four-year contract with Germany that will see him take charge of the team at Euro 2028 and the 2030 World Cup.
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“The national team brings us Germans together like almost nothing else can. That’s what makes this task so special for me,” Klopp said at his unveiling in Frankfurt on Friday morning.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 24: Azzi Fudd #35 of the Dallas Wings poses with the trophy after winning the Kia WNBA Skills Challenge STARRY 3-Point Contest in the AT&T WNBA All-Star 2026 at Wintrust Arena on July 24, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)
Dallas Wings rookie Azzi Fudd made WNBA history on Friday after becoming the first rookie to win the WNBA 3-Point Contest.
The No. 1 overall pick scored 30 points in the final round to win the contest, becoming the first rookie in WNBA history to claim the title.
Her victory was celebrated by her family, teammates and former UConn teammates, who applauded her outstanding shooting performance.
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“Azzi popping,” one of her former UConn teammates said, reacting to her performance.
Fudd also described winning the contest as a special moment.
“Just an honor to be invited to do it… an honor to win as well,” she said.
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Fudd was later presented with the WNBA Season 30 commemorative chain and celebrated the achievement alongside her family, friends and teammates.
Her victory made her the first rookie in WNBA history to win the league’s 3-Point Contest. What an impressive start to her professional career!
Premier League giants Manchester United and Arsenal are reportedly monitoring Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, who has attracted interest from Turkey and other European clubs.
Watkins, 30, has been at Villa Park since arriving from Brentford in the summer of 2020. Since then, he has struck 108 times and provided 47 assists in 278 games across competitions, including 21 strikes and five assists in 55 games last season.
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He contributed five goals and two assists in their victorious UEFA Europa League campaign, while Unai Emery’s side finished fourth in the Premier League, behind Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United.
Although he’s contracted to Villa Park till 2028, Watkins – who played two games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, where England finished third – is being tracked by the Gunners and the Red Devils, as per The Sun.
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The publication mentions that Fenerbahce were looking to submit a £30 million bid, but Villa rebuffed their approaches. The Turkish giants were prepared to give Watkins a salary between £7.5-8.5 million per year on a three-year deal.
The Gunners are keeping tabs on Watkins, as Gabriel Jesus is attracting interest and could be on the move. Meanwhile, the Red Devils could make a move if Joshua Zirkzee leaves, amid interest from Juventus and AS Roma. Villa are expected to ask for around £40 million for the striker.
What’s next for Arsenal and Manchester United?
Paris Saint-Germain vs Arsenal FC – UEFA Champions League Final 2026 – Source: Getty
Both Arsenal and Manchester United are coming off successful campaigns, especially in the Premier League, where the Gunners ended a 22-year title drought, while the Red Devils finished third, their best league finish since 2023.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have upcoming pre-season games against Girona (August 1), Real Betis (August 6), Borussia Dortmund (August 9) and Como (August 13) before their Community Shield clash with Manchester City on August 16. They open their Premier League title defence six days later at home to Coventry City, who won the Championship last season.
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Meanwhile, the Red Devils have friendlies coming up against Atletico Madrid (August 1), Paris Saint-Germain (August 8), Leeds United (August 13) and AC Milan (August 16) before travelling to promoted Hull City for their Premier League opener on August 22.
Momentum, confidence and qualification take centre stage as India begins Day 3 of the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow after a day that delivered both celebration and heartbreak. The biggest moment came through para powerlifter Jhandu Kumar, whose bronze medal in the men’s heavyweight event earned India its first medal of the Games. His achievement was made even more remarkable by the challenges he overcame, turning years of perseverance into a memorable podium finish.
Day 2, however, was also a story of fine margins. Ashok Malik narrowly missed a medal with a fourth-place finish in para powerlifting, while para swimmer Karthik Budigina fell just short of the podium after finishing fourth in the men’s 100m freestyle S13 final. Swimmer Srihari Nataraj’s campaign ended in the semi-finals, but boxer Jadumani Singh ensured there was more good news by cruising into the pre-quarterfinals with a unanimous-decision victory.
India’s lawn bowls squad continued to impress as Rupa Rani Tirkey and Pinki Singh secured back-to-back wins in the women’s pairs competition, while Putul Sonowal showcased remarkable resilience to register his second successive victory in the men’s singles. Their consistent performances have quietly emerged as one of India’s brightest stories in Glasgow so far.
Attention now shifts to another busy day featuring action across artistic gymnastics, boxing, bowls, swimming and the debut of India’s women’s 3×3 wheelchair basketball team at these Games. Boxer Sachin Siwach begins his campaign in the men’s 60kg division, the women’s artistic gymnastics team looks to progress through qualification, and the lawn bowls contingent aims to maintain its unbeaten run. While Day 3 may not offer many guaranteed medal opportunities, it promises several crucial contests that could shape India’s campaign in the days ahead. Follow our live coverage for every result, qualification update and defining moment from Glasgow.
Tyson Fury beat Maurisz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand, this weekend to clear his final hurdle ahead of a long-awaited clash with Anthony Joshua.
It was a straightforward runout for ‘The Gypsy King’, who forced a stoppage inside 7 rounds against the Polish veteran, now 46. In Wach’s last contest against a British heavyweight, he was stopped by Moses Itauma in the first.
Speaking to DAZN, the two-time unified heavyweight champion was asked for his thoughts.
“I was shown [some clips]. He looked good.”
Asked about the match-up with Fury, Joshua – who faces Kristian Prenga tonight in Saudi Arabia as his own ‘warm-up’ fight – said his full focus was on this immedaite performance before talk of the future.
“Let me focus on my job. He’s entitled to say whatever he wants.”
Lady Invictus, a filly with a couple of city victories already to her name, is set to elevate her profile even further this Saturday at Randwick.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained speedster will be vying for a maiden Saturday success in the $160,000 Happy Retirement Lynne McLean BM72 3YO Handicap, run over 1300 metres.
This daughter of I Am Invincible, a $675,000 Inglis Premier yearling, finished third in her only prior start at Saturday level two runs back. This was sandwiched between two midweek city wins, and Bott is eager for her to conclude her three-year-old season with a Saturday victory.
“She’s done well this prep and she deserves that,” Bott said.
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“It would be a good indication of her ability going forward.
“That Saturday placing was full of merit, so that gives us confidence stepping into this grade on Saturday that she can be competitive like she has been before.
“It was a nice win last start from her. She seems to be in good shape, and there’s more upside from her going forward.”
Lady Invictus’s third placing occurred over 1100 metres at Rosehill on June 27, finishing three-quarters of a length behind Lighthouse Lass. Before that, she broke her maiden by the same margin over the same distance at Warwick Farm. Her latest run saw her defeat Gatwick by a neck in a 1200m BM64 for three-year-olds at Canterbury.
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Adam Hyeronimus was the jockey for that win, but Tim Clark is booked to ride from barrier nine this Saturday.
Lady Invictus, currently the $3.60 favourite, is one of three Randwick entries for Bott and Waterhouse. They also have Silver Slipper Stakes runner-up Eviction Notice competing in the 1100m two-year-old event that commences the day, looking for his first win.
Later in the day, the Toronado gelding Sly Boots will aim to secure the first win of his current campaign in the 1800m BM78 for male horses.
Sly Boots was beaten 5-1/2 lengths by Tazima last start, however, that was in BM88 grade on a Heavy 9 track. Bott is enthusiastic about the prospect of him performing on a better surface.
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“The key will be the conditions, if he can get that better track it will be much more to his liking,” he commented.
“His first couple of runs, he didn’t have much luck with barriers and in running. Last start he got all the favours but couldn’t quite quicken on that ground, but he stuck on well and hopefully everything falls into place on Saturday because he is deserving of it.”
Randwick was rated a Soft 6 early Friday afternoon, with fine conditions predicted for both Friday and Saturday.
Rachel King will ride Sly Boots, a $7.50 chance, who also drew barrier nine.
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Explore Australian betting sites to find the best racing betting markets for Saturday’s action.
There’s no question that the fastest way to lower scores is by minimizing wasted shots on and around the green. And for players at every level, putting is often to blame when a hole — or round — goes sideways.
Think about it this way: In a regulation round, you’re expected to hit around 14 drives, 22 or so shots with shorter clubs … and 36 putts! So if you’re looking to shave a few strokes from your score, putting is the most obvious area to focus on.
Needless to say, dialing in your putting stroke is a tried-and-true way to post lower scores. So what exactly does “dialing in” look like? For most players, it comes down to practicing center contact with your stroke and achieving consistent roll. The only way to do that is to spend some quality time with your flatstick.
While the commitment to improving can feel daunting, don’t let that deter you! Even if it isn’t convenient for you to make regular visits to a real green or practice area, there are plenty of putting training aids you can purchase that can be used at home. One example: PuttOUT’s Premium Pressure Putt Trainer.
What sets this training device apart from numerous others on the market? Let us count the ways…
First and foremost, the Pressure Putt Trainer can be used indoors or out. Its lightweight, foldable and compact design makes it easily transported and stored. It includes a spiked base for stability and three different aim points.
The white, circular target is the exact same diameter as a regulation hole, with tapered sides that mimic real-life lip-outs if your putt isn’t center-cut. That kind of instant feedback is valuable, and isn’t always a given with putting aids.
The curved ramp behind the Pressure Putt Trainer’s “hole” is specially designed to return “made” putts back down the ramp, delivering the ball the exact distance on the way back that it would have rolled past the hole. This feature makes it easy to judge whether or not you’re hitting your putts with appropriate speed.
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Additionally, in order for the putt to roll up and back down the ramp, your ball needs to roll over the ramp’s “micro target.” The micro target also pops out so that only putts hit with both perfect pace and alignment will land in it.
To go even further in your stroke-path training, there’s a designated space to place an alignment stick at the top of the device to help you better visualize a straight-back and straight-through motion.
Use this device on a putting mat, the floor, or outside on real grass, setting up putts of any length. No matter where you decide to practice, one thing’s for sure: If you can manage to find the micro target successfully time and again, your putting will improve — and so will your scores.
After getting a commitment from LeBron James earlier on Friday, the Philadelphia 76ers appear to be adding some depth.
Caldwell-Pope was teammates with James for the Los Angeles Lakers’ title run in 2019-20, when he provided solid defence and three-point shooting. The 33-year-old also won a championship with the Denver Nuggets in 2022-23.
Ahead of the 2025-26 season, Caldwell-Pope landed with the Grizzlies as part of the trade return from the Orlando Magic for Desmond Bane.
With Memphis, Caldwell-Pope averaged 8.4 points, 2.7 assists and 2.1 rebounds while shooting 31.6 per cent from three over 51 games. The Grizzlies finished 13th in the Western Conference with a 25-57 record.
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The 13-year NBA veteran underwent season-ending finger surgery in mid-February to correct the misalignment of his right pinky finger.
Caldwell-Pope was drafted eighth overall in the 2013 draft and has played for six different teams in his career.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons players during their 2-1 victory over Senegal’s Teranga Lionesses in the first leg of an international friendly match at Remo Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State, Nigeria, on June 5, 2026. The friendly is part of both teams’ preparation for the forthcoming Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. (Photo by Adekunle Ajayi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Several Super Falcons players have alleged that cash was stolen from their wallets while staying at a Hotel in Casablanca, Morocco, ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The allegations surfaced on social media after forward Esther Okoronkwo shared a series of Snapchat posts claiming that money was taken from players’ rooms while they were away and housekeeping staff were cleaning.
“So they waited while we weren’t in the room to clean and steal the money,” one of her posts read.
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Okoronkwo also claimed hotel management failed to provide satisfactory answers after the incident was reported.
“We started talking and they don’t have answers. They also started being disrespectful,” another post said.
According to reports circulating on social media, Okoronkwo alleged she lost $700, while captain Rasheedat Ajibade reportedly had $200 stolen. Osinachi Ohale ($100), Joy Omewa ($120) and Halimatu Ayinde ($100) were also named among the affected players.
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Neither the Hotel in Casablanca, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), nor the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had publicly commented on the allegations at the time of writing.
The Super Falcons are in Morocco preparing for the 2026 WAFCON, where they are scheduled to face Zambia, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in the group stage.
The 2026 3M Open continues on Saturday with the third round at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minn. You can find full 3M Open tee times for Saturday’s third round at the bottom of this post.
3M Open Round 3 tee times: What to know
History was made on Friday in Minnesota, as Michael Kim closed his second round with four straight birdies to post the 16th round of 59 or lower in PGA Tour history.
The sizzling 12-birdie, zero bogey performance launched Kim 42 spots up to the top of the leaderboard at 14 under par overall, where he has a three-shot advantage over his closest competitors, Ben Kohles, Emiliano Grillo and Chandler Phillips, all of whom are 11 under par.
Kim, who is seeking his second career PGA Tour win, will start Round 3 at 1:35 p.m. ET on Saturday alongside Kohles.
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You can watch Saturday’s third round of the 2026 3M Open from 1-3 p.m. ET on Golf Channel followed by the CBS broadcast from 3-6 p.m. ET. PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will provide exclusive early streaming coverage starting at 8 a.m. ET on Saturday, in addition to featured group and featured hole coverage.
Check out the complete Round 3 tee times and groupings for the 3M Open below.
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