David Benavidez captured the WBA and WBO cruiserweight world titles last time out and ‘The Mexican Monster’ could be set to further add to his collection, after one world champion has been ordered to face him, or be stripped of his belt.

Having moved up from light-heavyweight and dethroned Gilberto Ramirez in sensational style last month, Benavidez is now in possession of the WBA (Regular) and WBC light-heavyweight world titles, as well as his newly claimed unified cruiserweight crown.

As a result, the 29-year-old has a decision on whether he should return to the light-heavyweight scene or remain up at cruiserweight, where he delivered an arguable career-best display last time out, with a showdown against Jai Opetaia being muted.

However, Benavidez has also been named as the WBC’s mandatory challenger in the cruiserweight division and ordered for a fight with WBC cruiserweight champion, Noel Mikaelian, another who has been linked to a clash with Opetaia.

Should Mikaelian refuse a title defence against Benavidez, WBC President has vowed to strip the Armenian of the belt, in an interview with BoxingScene.

“The WBC order is Mikaelian against Benavidez. That’s it. If he takes another fight, he is relinquishing his obligations with the WBC,”

“[There is no deadline] at this time. I’ll be talking to all the different managers. This is a top priority. I’m very much looking forward to making sure this happens.”

If Mikaeilian chooses to proceed with a fight against Opetaia and thus loses his world title, it is expected that Poland-born interim champion, Michal Cieslak, will benefit. He will either be elevated to full world champion and ordered for a first defence against Benavidez, or inserted into a contest for the vacant belt against the three-division world champion.

Manchester United have been linked with a move for £43m-rated Rafael Leao this summer after his expressed his want to leave AC Milan in the summer transfer window

Galatasaray have become the first club to submit an official proposal for Manchester United target Rafael Leao, after the forward confirmed he wants to leave AC Milan this summer.

Speaking in an interview with Sport TV on Saturday, Leao expressed his desire to quit Milan. The 26-year-old has spent the last seven years at the San Siro, scoring 80 goals and adding 65 assists in 291 matches.

Leao said: “I think I gave Milan everything I could give. It is a club that helped me grow a lot and supported me through difficult moments. I am happy to have left my mark on the club’s history.

“Everyone has their dreams, their challenges, the things they want, the goals they want to achieve. And I also want to take on a new challenge in a new league.”

United are among the long list of potential suitors for Portugal international Leao, with Michael Carrick keen to strengthen his forward line in preparation for a return to the Champions League.

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Galatasaray are another club interested and it’s the Super Lig champions who have emerged as the first to make a move for Leao, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. However, the ex-Lille man is reluctant to make the move to Turkey, and is instead waiting on a Premier League side to enter the race.

Leao’s agent is said to have offered him to Arsenal, though the Premier League winners are yet to act on the proposal. United, meanwhile, are said to have registered an interest, but have not taken steps to materialise it.

With the World Cup on the horizon, Leao’s future is expected to be resolved once Portugal have finished at the tournament, as he is poised to have a big part to play in Roberto Martinez’s squad this summer.

When his focus is firmly back on his club career, Leao’s suitors are anticipated to come forward with offers, with Milan hoping to receive a fee of £43million, which would fall into United’s budget.

While United’s primary objective is to add a couple of central midfielders to their squad ahead of the new season, there is money available to bring more depth to the forward line and also at the back.

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Though Matheus Cunha became United’s primary attacker on the left under Michael Carrick last season, he can also play up front and in the No.10 role, leaving room out for another versatile attacker – in Leao – to come into the squad.

United bosses have already added £38m to the transfer kitty as Hojlund’s Napoli move became permanent after the Serie A side qualified for the Champions League, while Marcus Rashford is set to be sold.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

One of the most in-demand fights in boxing right now is a light-heavyweight showdown between unified champion, Dmitry Bivol, and WBC ruler, David Benavidez, for the undisputed 175lb crown.

However, two-division world champion, Teofimo Lopez, believes that the fight could result in a ‘massacre’.

Bivol claimed the undisputed light-heavyweight world title when he avenged a defeat to Artur Beterbiev last February, but the Russian was stripped of the WBC marble soon after, with Benavidez elevated to world champion. 

‘The Mexican Monster’ has since gone on to claim the unified cruiserweight crown, but he maintains that he would be able to drop back down in weight in order to take on Bivol for undisputed honours.

Speaking on the Inside The Ring show, Lopez renamed Benavidez as ‘The Massacre Monster’ whilst discussing the potential fight, believing that the age difference between the two light-heavyweight champions could be a key factor in the outcome of the contest.

“I will call Benavidez, ‘The Massacre Monster’, because man, [that performance against Ramirez] was nasty. He is real nasty, he really is.”

“He [Benavidez] is coming into his prime, while the other one [Bivol] is on his way out. You have got to also think about those things.”

Bivol fulfilled his IBF mandatory by defending his belts against Michael Eifert last weekend, but the WBO have ordered him to take on their mandatory challenger, Callum Smith, in order to retain his WBO strap.

As a result, it seems as though a potential Bivol-Benavidez clash may have to wait until 2027, with Beterbiev also being considered for a trilogy affair.

The Indian cricket team’s plans for the ODI series against Afghanistan have suffered a major blow, with Virat Kohli reportedly ruled out of the three-match contest due to a hamstring injury. The series starts on June 13. Kohli was until recently playing in IPL 2026 for champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. In the final, Kohli could be seen in discomfort. A report in The Indian Express claimed that Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is likely to replace Kohli in the Afghanistan series. Gaikwad is part of the India A squad travelling to Sri Lanka. If Gaikwad is picked, Rajat Patidar might get a look-in for the India A squad, which will travel to Sri Lanka for a tri-series involving Afghanistan.

The three-match series begins on June 13 in Dharamsala. Kohli suffered the injury during the IPL final, which his side, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, won on Sunday.

“He is out of the ODI series due to a hamstring injury. He got injured during the final. Scans have revealed a distal semimembranosus tendon tear,” a BCCI source told PTI.

A distal semimembranosus tendon tear is a rare hamstring injury affecting the thick tendon that attaches a muscle to the inner part of the shinbone, just below the knee.

Kohli, known for his unmatched fitness even at 37 years of age, was in stellar form in the IPL, where he steered Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a second consecutive title. He hit the winning runs in the final against Gujarat Titans.

Reinventing his T20 game, Kohli amassed 675 runs in RCB’s triumphant campaign, including a hundred and five fifty-plus scores. Kohli’s absence will take the sheen off the upcoming series.

Though the former India captain is now a one-format player, he remains a top draw for fans worldwide. It is extremely rare for Kohli to miss games due to injury, given his exemplary fitness standards.

It also remains to be seen if Rohit Sharma is available for the whole series against Afghanistan. The opener was included in the squad subject to fitness after a hamstring injury affected his IPL appearances. Ever since both Kohli and Rohit retired from Tests last year, there has been immense speculation over their ODI future.

The next 50-over World Cup is scheduled to be held in South Africa in October-November 2027, and they would be included in the squad on the basis of their form and fitness leading up to the tournament.

The second ODI against Afghanistan will be played in Lucknow on June 17, followed by the third and final match in Chennai on June 20.

After the Afghanistan series, India’s next ODI assignment will be in England – a three-match series beginning on July 14.

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O’Neill used the friendly against the side ranked 80th in the world as a chance to give younger players a chance in the green and white shirt.

Both Liverpool’s Kieran Morrison and Arsenal’s Ceadach O’Neill made their senior debuts during the lacklustre match.

Stopper Luke Southwood also came off the bench at half-time to make just his second appearance, in what was the first ever meeting between the nations.

“That was Tom [Atcheson’s] first start and I thought he played terrific, Ciaron Brown was excellent in the back three and Ruairi McConville,” Northern Ireland boss O’Neill added.

“I thought young Ceadach O’Neill did really well when he came on and showed great strength to stay on the ball, but it was really good to see the togetherness of the group.

“Ethan Galbraith has not played since March and Ali McCann has not played after March and gave us a great shift as well. Right through the squad, they worked really hard to keep a clean sheet and win the game.”

Northern Ireland will now travel to Lille to face France in their final preparation match before the World Cup.

O’Neill added that there will be “no expectation” on his side on Monday (20:10 BST) against the nation who sit second in the Fifa rankings.

“They are certainly one of the major favourites for the World Cup,” he added.

“It will be a tough challenge and a different approach from our side, we will be as strong as we can be from the start.

“It is a great game, there is no expectation on us, but we have to give a good account of ourselves as well.”

Polish qualifier Maja ​Chwalinska continued her fairytale run with a 7-6(4) 6-4 win ​over Diana Shnaider on Thursday, reaching her maiden Grand Slam final at the French Open and booking a title showdown with ​Russian ‌Mirra Andreeva.

After 19-year-old Andreeva sealed a 6-1 ⁠6-3 semi-final win over Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, it was Chwalinska’s turn to shine ‌under the roof of Court Philippe Chatrier, and the ⁠24-year-old delivered her best tennis when it mattered to go through.

Read moreAndreeva races past error-prone Kostyuk to reach French Open final

Shnaider cut a frustrated figure in the opening ​set as her opponent came up with ‌some stunning winners that showcased her power and precision, but the 22-year-old Russian hit back to recover a second break and ‌draw level at 4-4.

Chwalinska turned up the style further in the battle of the ​left-handers, unleashing a backhand winner to hold in a marathon 11th game, before earning a set point in the ensuing ​tiebreak with the perfect lob.

The crowd favourite, playing in ​her ninth match at Roland Garros this ​year and sporting strapping on her left thigh, took the opening set to roaring ​applause before going toe-to-toe with Shnaider in the opening eight games of the next.

A decisive break in the next game gave Chwalinska a great opportunity to close out an absorbing ⁠contest in two sets, and the world number 114 stayed focused to ⁠finish her opponent ​off on her first match point with a forehand winner.

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AFP)

For so long, it looked as though Robinson would never play for England again, certainly under this regime.

England explained his exile on grounds of conditioning, on a tendency to lose pace or hobble out of matches altogether. His skills were not in doubt – Robinson averaged less than 23 with the ball in his 20 previous Tests.

Humbled in Australia and in need of an attack leader, England returned to the 32-year-old. Robinson has benefitted from being given the captaincy at Sussex and admitted he has matured. If England had him bowling like this in Australia, how different might the Ashes have been?

Bowling the second over of the innings, Robinson found movement down the Lord’s slope, into left-hander Conway. After two balls, captain Stokes posted a short leg and Conway instantly played all around a full ball. Robinson roared with delight, while Conway was disgruntled to see the review showing the ball clipping leg stump.

Robinson’s length was immaculate. Facing his second ball, Williamson failed to get far enough forward, looping the catch to debutant Emilio Gay at short leg. Ravindra, another left-hander, was pinned by another nip-backer. The noise was deafening.

At 2-3, New Zealand were in disarray. Captain Tom Latham could have been run out by Stokes before he was lbw, getting only half-forward to Atkinson. Robinson showed his full array of skills to find seam movement up the slope, bowling Mitchell, who offered no shot.

When the pacey Tongue castled Tom Blundell, New Zealand were in danger of being dismissed before the close. Glenn Phillips’ unbeaten 31, supported by Nathan Smith, somehow got them through without further loss.

Why Today’s Rally Elite Are Sprinting for 15 Days Straight

The old-school philosophy of the Dakar Rally was simple: survive, pace yourself, navigate accurately, and let the race come to you. But as stated by two-time champion Ricky Brabec in episode 26 of the Bore & Stoke podcast, that era is officially dead. Modern rally racing has evolved into a hyper-competitive, 15-day maximum-effort sprint where strategy has taken a backseat to raw velocity.

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The Death of “Rally Games”

In past decades, riders could utilize tactical positioning – sometimes intentionally slowing down to avoid leading the navigation on subsequent days, or playing psychological games in the dunes. Today, the depth of talent at the front of the field makes those tactics obsolete.

“Within the last five years, it’s been a sprint every single day,” says Brabec. “The only game that you can play now is just not making a mistake. Because dude, you make one mistake and you can lose three minutes. That’s the game now. There are no games where you’re trying to lead people in the wrong direction or hide behind a bush.”

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Because the top ten riders start at three-minute intervals, catching a competitor ahead requires making up substantial time on someone who is already riding on the absolute limit. It is common for top riders to spend 8 to 10 hours completely alone in the wilderness, only to find out at the finish line that the top eight competitors are separated by less than two minutes.

The Cognitive Overload

While the physical demands of hanging onto a 450cc rally bike through shifting sand dunes are immense, Brabec emphasizes that the cognitive exhaustion is what truly breaks competitors.

1. Constant Focal Shifting: Riders must constantly look down at a roadbook to process navigation notes, look back up to read unpredictable terrain at speeds exceeding 90 mph, and simultaneously monitor digital compass headings (caps) and speed zones.

2. Zero-Relaxation Liaisons: Even after the timed special stage concludes, the mental tax continues. Riders must navigate public highways for hours on end to return to the bivouac, battling high winds, traffic, and fatigue.

The Closest Finish in History

This relentless pace culminated in the most tightly contested Dakar finish in history, where two seconds dictated the victory after thousands of miles. While Brabec acknowledges the immense stress of the hyper-sprint format, he admits the intensity is exactly what keeps him returning to the start line: “The level is insane, and I don’t see it slowing down.”

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Check out the Bore & Stoke episode with Ricky Brabec here to listen to the full interview.

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The Cleveland Browns pulled off one of the most shocking decisions of the offseason when they decided to trade Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams on Monday. 

The Browns decided to get rid of Garrett, even though he’s coming off a 2025 season in which he set an NFL record with 23 sacks. The only way a trade like this can even begin to make sense is if you’re able to get something solid in return and the Browns did exactly that. 

Not only did the Browns get Jared Verse as part of the deal, but they also landed three draft picks: 

• 2027 first-round pick
• 2028 second-round pick
• 2029 conditional third-round pick

For now, the deal only includes one first-round pick, but the Browns could actually end up scoring a SECOND first-round pick thanks to a bizarre conditional clause in the deal. 

How the Browns could score an extra first-round pick

Of the three draft picks that Cleveland will be getting, the selection coming in 2029 is a conditional pick, which means the round of the pick could change if certain conditions are met and that’s where things get kind of interesting. 

The Browns did their best to make sure that Garrett won’t end up back in the AFC North by inserting a unique clause in the deal: If the Rams trade Garrett to an AFC North team at any point between now and the 2029 NFL Draft, then Los Angeles will have to cough up a 2029 first-round pick instead of a third-rounder. 

That’s it. That’s the one condition. If the Rams ship Garrett off to Pittsburgh, Cincinnati or Baltimore, then the Browns will get a first-round pick from L.A. in 2029. 

Although it’s an unusual condition, it’s not unheard of. As a matter of fact, the Dallas Cowboys used this exact condition when they sent Micah Parsons to Green Bay. Under the terms of the deal, the Cowboys would get a 2028 first-round pick from the Packers if they decided to trade Parsons to another NFC East team. 

Now, you might think the Browns are a little crazy for doing this, but when you’re dealing with the Rams, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Back in 2019, the Rams sent two first-round picks to Jacksonville in a trade for Jalen Ramsey. The cornerback won a Super Bowl in 2021 and got voted to three Pro Bowls during his time in L.A., but after the 2022 season, the Rams turned around and traded him to the Miami Dolphins. 

The Dolphins obviously aren’t in the same division as Jacksonville, but the Rams showed that their open to trading away a star player just a few years after acquiring him. And since that’s the case, the Browns did their best to make sure Rams general manager Les Snead thinks twice before trying to trade Garrett to the Steelers, Ravens or Bengals. 

Garrett is 30 years old and he’s under contract through the 2030 season, so he probably won’t be leaving L.A. unless the Rams decide to trade him, and if that happens, it almost certainly won’t be to an AFC North team thanks to this unique condition buried in the trade terms.