David Benavidez dismantled Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez on Saturday, stopping the Mexican with a stunning combination to win the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles.

At T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Benavidez dropped Ramirez in the fourth round and again in the sixth, with the latter knockdown proving decisive.

The first knockdown came courtesy of Benavidez’s trademark, rapid flurries – one against the ropes and one out in the open – with single, heavier shots mixed in.

It was a left hook that finally put down Ramirez on that occasion, badly damaging his eye as well, but the 34-year-old was saved by the bell before battling through the fifth round.

But late in the sixth frame, Benavidez fought his way off the ropes and dug a right hook to the body, before unleashing a rapid-fire eight-punch combination.

That froze Ramirez, who then ate a left hook, a right, and one more of each. The southpaw retreated, holding a glove in front of his damaged eye, and sank to a knee.

Benavidez refrained from adding any unnecessary blows, before Ramirez shook his head at referee Thomas Taylor when the count hit eight, sparking jubilation in Benavidez in the corner.

The result kept the 29-year-old unbeaten (32-0, 26 KOs) and saw him become a three-weight world champion, as he added to his title reigns at super-middleweight and light-heavyweight.

Meanwhile, Ramirez (48-2, 30 KOs) tasted defeat for just the second time, following his 2022 points loss to Dmitry Bivol.

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Bivol was on Benavidez’s radar during the latter’s recent run at light-heavyweight, although the former undisputed champion is tied up with a fight against Michael Eifert on 30 May and then likely a trilogy bout with Artur Beterbiev.

Before targeting Bivol, Benavidez was eyeing a bout with Canelo Alvarez, but the Mexican-American’s frustrations at failing to secure that fight led him to move up in weight.

It’s crisis time in Marseille. Marseille suffered their fourth defeat in their last six Ligue 1 matches, being heavily beaten by struggling Nantes (3–0).

Arsenal, meanwhile, extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to six points after a comfortable win against Fulham. In Spain, Barcelona have almost secured the league title after their victory over Osasuna.

In Formula 1, Lando Norris won the sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix while Marta Kostyuk secured Madrid Open title for first time in tennis.

Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders LIVE Score, IPL 2026: Sunrisers Hyderabad will take on Kolkata Knight Riders in their IPL 2026 clash on Sunday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Pat Cummins and Co. are enjoying a superb run this season and head into the contest on the back of two remarkable run chases. Against Rajasthan Royals, SRH successfully chased down a daunting target of 229, before making light work of a massive 243 against Mumbai Indians in their previous match. KKR, meanwhile, have finally found some rhythm in the tournament after registering victories in their last two games. With both teams gaining momentum at a crucial stage of the season, Sunday’s encounter promises to be a key fixture as they look to keep their campaigns firmly on track. (Live Scorecard)

SRH vs KKR, IPL 2026 Live Updates, straight from Hyderabad:

It’s time to start thinking about the summer for the Minnesota Vikings, with free agency and the draft in the rearview. Every year, we ask our writers to think outside the box in May, delivering bold predictions that are designed to be funky, brash, and outside the box.

Twelve predictions. One busy summer. Minnesota has plenty to sort out before Week 1.

Here’s what they said for the summer of 2026.

The Vikings’ Summer Could Bring More Than Routine Roster Tweaks

What’s your hottest take for the Vikings before the start of Week 1?

1. J.J. McCarthy Wins the QB1 Job

Predictor: Wes Johnson

J.J. McCarthy emerges as the team’s QB1 to open the season after a strong camp battle with Kyler Murray. While this is low-hanging fruit, it’s something that could definitely happen and would light VikingsTwitter on fire.

2. Vikings Add Not One, But Two, Notable WRs

Predictor: Tony Schultz

My hot summer take is that the Vikings don’t sign a veteran wide receiver. They sign two. Jauan Jennings came in for a talk with the team. He hung out for the day and then left. Don’t worry, he’ll be back. I think the Vikings double down and later pick up DeAndre Hopkins later on. Why? The team has shaved the cap back some, and Hopkins is running out of time in the NFL.

At 33, he sees his personal window closing and his friend and former teammate, Kyler Murray, on a team loaded with offensive talent. For a cheap one-year deal, he gets the Vikings to bring him on board for a fearsome wide receiver corps that makes you pick your poison between the twenties and in the redzone.

3. Charles Demmings Turns into a Starting CB

Predictor: Josh Frey

The Vikings brought in James Pierre as a free agent with upside, but the athletic ability of Charles Demmings shouldn’t be overlooked. He is a great football player with the ability to find the football in coverage. With a little development over the summer, he could become a starting cornerback alongside Byron Murphy and Isaiah Rodgers.

4. Tyron Ingram-Dawkins Starts at DT; Caleb Banks Does Not

Predictor: Sean Borman

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins will start for Caleb Banks to begin the season. This is not an injury statement but a development one; it gives Banks a little team to watch and shows how Flores would like the position played.

5. Caleb Banks, Domonique Orange Easily Win Starting DT Jobs

Predictor: Brevan Bane

Caleb Banks and Big Citrus will both win starting jobs during camp. Two top draft picks winning starting jobs may not sound crazy, but both immediately getting starting roles over solid depth players like Levi Drake Rodriguez and Elijah Williams isn’t guaranteed. Van Ginkel-Redmond-Orange-Banks-Turner could be an absolute force to be reckoned with on the defensive front in 2026.

6. The Trades Are Not Done

Predictor: Kyle Joudry

The bold prediction is that the Vikings’ trading isn’t done. Someone else gets moved. Maybe it’s Ivan Pace Jr., Walter Rouse, or someone else. But a deal gets done involving a currently rostered player getting traded.

7. Six Rookies Start Week 1

Predictor: Henrique Gucciardi

There are a lot of positions up for grabs on the roster, and I liked what Rob Brzezinski and the coaching staff did in the draft. So I’m betting that Caleb Banks, Jake Golday, Domonique Orange, Jakobe Thomas, Max Bredeson, and Gavin Gerhardt will prove themselves during training camp and be early contributors.

8. A New Starting Safety Not Yet on the Roster

Predictor: Ali Siddiqui

The Vikings will sign a safety in August to replace the retired Harrison Smith.

9. J.J. McCarthy Looks Great, Turns into Hot Trade Commodity

My bold prediction is that J.J. McCarthy actually makes legitimate strides in camp and preseason and becomes a hot trade candidate. Murray wins the job, but McCarthy changes his perception and wins the clear QB2 job over Wentz.

Predictor: Cole Smith

10. Vikings Add Leonard Floyd (OLB) and a Former 49ers WR

Predictor: Dustin Baker

Leonard Floyd was on the 2021 Super Bowl team with Kevin O’Connell when the Los Angeles Rams took down the Cincinnati Bengals. O’Connell dials up Floyd for the vacant OLB3 spot. And between Jauan Jennings, Deebo Samuel, or Brandon Aiyuk — one is the Week 1 WR3 for the Vikings.

11. Safety Jay Ward Dominates

Predictor: Adam New

Jay Ward shines during the preseason and becomes the Vikings’ best safety over the course of the 2026 season.

t12. Jakobe Thomas Earns a Starting Job

Predictor: Janik Eckardt

At safety, it’ll be 3rd-Rounder Jakobe Thomas in the starting role, not a potentially returning Harrison Smith or more experienced Theo Jackson and Jay Ward. Brian Flores hand-picked his new safety.

t12. Jakobe Thomas Starts a Safety despite Harrison Smith Back for Year No. 15

Predictor: Ted Schwerzler

The Vikings get a return from Harrison Smith, but Jakobe Thomas still starts anyway. The rookie winds up taking a spot from either Jay Ward or Theo Jackson.

Barcelona are now just one step away from lifting the La Liga title after grinding out a 2-1 win over Osasuna, but apart from the result, the night in Pamplona had its own storylines that say a lot about the mood inside the squad.

With three matches left, Barcelona sit comfortably at the top of the table with 88 points, holding a strong lead over Real Madrid.

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The equation is simple now – if Real Madrid fail to win their next game against Espanyol, the title will officially be heading back to Camp Nou.

The match itself was tight for long spells, but Barcelona found their breakthrough late on.

In the 81st minute, Marcus Rashford delivered a precise cross from the right, and Robert Lewandowski timed his run perfectly to head home.

Just five minutes later, the game was effectively wrapped up. Fermin Lopez played a clever pass through the defence, allowing Ferran Torres to break free and finish calmly past the goalkeeper.

It was a quick one-two punch that turned a tense game into a decisive result.

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On the night when Barcelona strikers were on the scoresheet, there were a few incidents that you might have missed. Here are three such events.

“Campeones” already ringing out

Clutch doesn’t even begin to describe Toronto Raptors star RJ Barrett’s season-saving shot.

The Raptors, down 3-2 in the series, were trailing the Cleveland Cavaliers 110-109 with 10.9 seconds left in the fourth quarter at the Scotiabank Arena on Friday night.

Barrett inbounded the ball to Scottie Barnes, with the Raptors needing a basket to save their season. Barnes dribbled to the free-throw line and then kicked the ball back to Barrett, who was waiting at the top of the key.

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Toronto Raptors’ RJ Barrett celebrates with fans after a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 of the first-round NBA playoffs in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on May 1, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)

Barrett launched a 3-pointer, a shot that needed to find the back of the net if the Raptors were to force a Game 7 and extend their season. Instead, Barrett found the back of the rim and the ball bounced nearly seven feet off it.

The ball then came down and fell through the net, giving the Raptors a 112-110 lead with 1.2 seconds left. Evan Mobley had a chance to win it for the Cavaliers, but his 3-pointer bounced off the front of the rim as time expired.

Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said he felt like Barrett’s shot was in the air for an eternity.

“It was only half a second, but it felt like an eternity,” Rajakovic said. “I was happy for him, for this team, for this city, that the shot went down.”

Barrett said he knew it had a chance to fall because of where the ball landed on the rim.

FORMER WIZARDS STAR JOHN WALL RETURNS TO WASHINGTON AS HOWARD BASKETBALL OPERATIONS PRESIDENT

Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett scored the winning basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers during overtime in game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on May 1, 2026. (Nick Turchiaro/Imagn Images)

“I thought it was still good because it went straight up,” Barrett said. “When it goes straight up, you have a chance.”

Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson had a more succinct reaction to Barrett’s season-saving shot.

“Sometimes the basketball gods aren’t with you,” Atkinson said.

The Cavaliers are now looking to turn the page and win Game 7 at home.

“This is why you fight so hard to get home-court advantage,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “We knew this wasn’t going to be easy. This is the playoffs, this is what it’s about. We’ve got to recover and get ready for Sunday’s game.”

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Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett reacts after scoring the winning basket against the Cleveland Cavaliers in overtime during game six of the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, on May 1, 2026. (Nick Turchiaro/Imagn Images)

“Protect home court,” Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell said. “It doesn’t matter if we lost by 30 or two, protect home court. That’s all you can do.”

For Raptors fans, the friendly bounce was reminiscent of an even bigger playoff basket north of the border: Kawhi Leonard’s four-bounce, buzzer-beating winner against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 of the 2019 Eastern Conference semifinals.

Raptors fans hope they can get another special memory when the team plays the Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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On Saturday, we chronicled the Minnesota Vikings’ general manager search, Garrett Bradbury’s plight in Chicago, and new WR Dillon Bell. It’s time for the second batch of purple rumors for the week.

Minnesota’s rumor mill is already drifting toward 2027, familiar depth help, and one rookie cornerback.

Training camp gets cooking for the Vikings in less than three months; here’s where the rumors stand ahead of time.

Three Names Are Already Floating around the Vikings’ Summer Radar

The Purple Rumor Mill for May 3rd, 2026.

Rumor: LaNorris Sellers, a quarterback from South Carolina, has already been linked to the Vikings in next year’s draft.

Brendan Donahue of Sharp Football Analysis kickstarted the 2027 mock draft process this week, with the Vikings holding the 14th pick — so an 8-9 record or so in 2026.

He nominated Sellers to Minnesota and wrote, “The 2026 season feels like a make-or-break year for both the quarterbacks currently on the Vikings roster. I don’t think head coach Kevin O’Connell will hesitate to move on from either or both if they miss the playoffs again in 2026 and replace them with someone who seems to be more of his prototype at the position.”

“Many scouts believe Sellers has as much upside as any quarterback at the college level if he can just put it all together.”

Norris looks the part the moment he steps on the field. At 6’3″ and 240 pounds, and running in the 4.5s, his physical gifts are immediately apparent, translating directly to his on-field performance. He boasts legitimate arm strength, allowing him to launch the deep ball, and can break the pocket to create plays much like the nation’s top scramblers. Clearly, there’s significant talent to develop.

However, his concerns are equally evident. He tends to hold the ball too long, leading to sacks, and struggles with ball security. Furthermore, his accuracy noticeably declined in 2025.

Ultimately, Norris is a quarterback with rare physical tools, but he also exhibits significant areas for improvement and inconsistency.

Of course, if Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy are the real deal, the Vikings won’t need a quarterback in 2027. Simple as that.

Rumor: If the Vikings want Cam Akers back, he’s available.

Akers’s short stint with the Seattle Seahawks is kaput. Seattle Times’s Bob Conodotta wrote Monday, “The Seahawks released veteran running back Cam Akers on Monday in the wake of selecting Jadarian Price in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday. Akers, a seven-year NFL veteran, signed to the Seahawks’ practice squad last November after an injury to George Holani.”

“He played in three regular-season games and in the NFC title game win over the Rams without getting a carry. He had two kickoff returns for 54 yards in a late-season win at Carolina. The release of Akers leaves the Seahawks with six running backs on the roster — Price, Zach Charbonnet, Holani, Kenny McIntosh, Jacardia Wright and free agent signee Emanuel Wilson.”

Akers will now hit the open market, with Minnesota obviously being a suitor for his services because they just love the man so much.

Is Akers required on the Vikings’ roster right now? Nope. But in 2023, 2024, and 2025, Akers didn’t really feel needed either at this time on the calendar, and he found his way back to the Vikings each time. Here’s the current RB setup in Minnesota after the draft:

RB1: Aaron Jones
RB2: Jordan Mason
RB3: Demond Claibonre
RB4: Zavier Scott
RB5: Kejon Owens

You can never rule out Akers for the O’Connell-led Vikings. He has O’Connell’s gridiron crush.

Rumor: CB Charles Demmings could be an undercover stud.

Analyzing each team’s draft class, Brugler wrote Monday about Demmings, “Day 3 pick who could surprise: Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin. Aside from Demmings always being a great quote, he leaves everything he has on the field. With his cover athleticism and mental toughness, Demmings was a worthy bet in the fifth round, and he landed with a team that needed cornerback depth.”

Demmings joins the team as the fourth cornerback, behind Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and James Pierre. His initial depth chart position, however, doesn’t preclude him from early playing time. Given Minnesota’s history of rotating corners and Demmings’ promising traits, he has a clear path to snaps by September if circumstances align favorably.

Physically, Demmings stands 6’1″ and weighs 195 pounds, boasting a 4.41-second 40-yard dash. His impressive length and vertical speed are evident, complemented by the excellent ball-tracking skills he demonstrated in college, where he recorded nine interceptions. Furthermore, his tackling significantly improved at Stephen F. Austin, making him a more complete player than he was earlier in his career.

Minnesota has struggled to develop drafted cornerbacks into long-term solutions since Xavier Rhodes. That challenging track record casts a shadow over every new addition to the position in the draft. Demmings now enters this historical context, equipped with the tools to compete. His performance will ultimately determine whether the pattern of past struggles continues or finally shifts.