Ryan Garcia is set for a defence of his WBC welterweight world title, taking on Conor Benn in six weeks’ time. Now, pound-for-pound superstar Canelo Alvarez has revealed his prediction for the fight.

Benn was named as the WBC’s mandatory challenger earlier this year, despite having not fought at the weight since April 2022. Therefore, when Garcia dethroned Mario Barrios in February to claim the title, it seemed as though a meeting between the pair would inevitably come next.

Benn decided to first take part in a 150lb catchweight scrap with Regis Prograis, winning on points to allow him to push ahead with the title challenge.

It was confirmed earlier this month that Garcia vs. Benn will go ahead on September 12 – a notable date considering Garcia’s Latino heritage, with Mexican Independence Day being just four days later.

Mexican icon Canelo has fought in September for the last four years, but told The Ariel Helwani Show that he was happy for Garcia to take his slot following the postponement of his challenge for Christian Mbilli’s WBC super-middleweight world title.

“It’s very good [that he is fighting on that date], especially because I turned that date down now because I moved my fight. I think that he is good for fighting on that date. I think that he is the correct person to do it and the fight deserves that day.”

When discussing the fight itself, Canelo admitted that he is favouring his former stablemate, believing that Garcia is capable of beating anyone on his day.

“I like Ryan, he is very talented. When he is focussed, he can beat everybody.

“I know Conor too and I like Conor too, but I think that Ryan is a special fighter.”

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Garcia-Benn will be staged at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with undefeated cruiserweight Jai Opetaia expected to compete in the co-main event of the bill.

The WNBA recently posted a video featuring Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese during the All-Star weekend, which they had to delete right away.

In the video, which made the rounds on social media, Bueckers and Reese made a $400 wager on who will win between the Dallas Wings and the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday. But soon after posting the video, the league’s social media team must’ve realized they did something wrong.

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They must have overlooked Section 5(c) of their new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which states that any player found guilty of wagering money or anything of value on the outcome, score, or aspect of any WNBA competition is subject to fines, suspensions, or outright dismissal, in the sole discretion of the Commissioner.

MORE: Paige Bueckers includes Caitlin Clark in her All-Star starting 5

Now, WNBA fans are asking whether the league will investigate Bueckers and Reese for breaking the CBA’s gambling policy, putting commissioner Cathy Engelbert in such an awkward predicament because this involves two of the league’s top stars.

Jul 29, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) looks to shoot against Atlanta Dream forward Naz Hillmon (00) during the first half at College Park Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images

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The Atlanta Dream had no business winning against the Dallas Wings on Wednesday. With 23.1 seconds left, the Dream were down by four points, but Allisha Gray had other plans.

Gray drew a foul on Arike Ogunbowale during her three-point shot attempt, which was upgraded to a technical foul after a video review. Gray knocked down all three free throws and then hit a fadeaway jumper in the ensuing possession to give the Dream their first lead since the second quarter.

In the next play, Awak Kuier missed a three-point shot, and Jessica Shepard also missed her tip-in attempt at the buzzer. The Wings have now lost all three of their games against the Dream this season.

Allisha Gray finished with 25 points to lead the Dream, while Angel Reese had 22 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, and four steals on 9-for-18 shooting from the field. Arike Ogunbowale top-scored the Wings in the losing effort with 24 points, six rebounds, five assists, and four steals on 9-for-16 shooting from the field.

Oleksandr Usyk is planning on just one more fight before hanging up the gloves and sailing off into the sunset, and the Ukrainian icon has confirmed who he is targeting for his ‘last dance’ and why.

Usyk’s achievements at both cruiserweight and heavyweight have seen him recognised as one of boxing’s all-time greats, having joined Evander Holyfield as the second man to claim the undisputed title in both weight divisions.

However, against Rico Verhoeven back in May, the 39-year-old showed signs that perhaps he’s starting slowing down and was somewhat fortunate to avoid an astonishing upset as a controversial round 11 stoppage spared his blushes.

During the aftermath, Usyk announced his decision to vacate all three of his heavyweight world titles and to have one last dance before retirement, with former WBC heavyweight ruler Deontay Wilder deemed by many to be the frontrunner for the opposing corner. 

In an interview with All Out Fighting, Usyk confirmed that ‘The Bronze Bomber’ is his targeted opponent because he is a ‘dangerous guy’.

“This is a man who, in the last 10 years, has been a top fighter, a world champion. It’s a dangerous guy.” 

Despite the fact that Wilder has lost four of his last seven contests, Usyk was unbothered by the suggestion that the American’s recent form could see him not receive credit from the fans for defeating him at this point in his career. 

“I am not boxing for glory. For me, it is just my life.”

Usyk vs Wilder could be set to take place in either December 2026 or early 2027, as the Ukrainian calls time on an illustrious career.

Next month Teofimo Lopez attempts to become a three-division world champion as he steps up to welterweight and challenges for Rolando Romero’s WBA (Super) world title.

Now, Shakur Stevenson, who defeated Lopez back in January, has laid out his prediction for the fight.

Lopez has overcome two dominant champions when getting his hands on world titles, trumping the respective poster boys of both the lightweight and super-lightweight divisions when dethroning Vasyl Lomachenko and then Josh Taylor.

After three defences of his WBO super-lightweight world title, his reign came to an end at the beginning of the year when he was comfortably outboxed by Stevenson at Madison Square Garden, prompting a move up to 147lbs.

On his debut at the weight, Lopez is set to face Romero, who claimed his belt with a win over Ryan Garcia at Times Square in New York almost 14 months ago, but is yet to defend it since.

On his X account, Stevenson admitted that he’s backing Lopez to bounce back from their meeting and come out on top, but recognised that he was wrong when he previously picked Garcia to get the better of Romero last year.

“I talk s**t about Teo, but he for sure should win. Although, I did pick Ryan to beat Rolly, but I got more faith in Teo tbh!”

Romero vs Lopez is scheduled to take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, August 22, with the remainder of the bill expected to be announced in the coming days.

Manchester United are looking to make their money stretch in the summer transfer window and four exisiting players could help them do just that

Manchester United have been aiming to change their approach to transfers since Ineos took charge of football operations in February 2024. Sir Jim Ratcliffe has spoken about ending United’s reputation as the ‘dumb money’ in the transfer window. Their aim is to buy players for relatively small fees, and squeeze the maximum amount of profit from the deal.

United have not become a selling club, but the re-sale value of a player is now taken into consideration before buying. In theory, this should bring to an end deals like the one that saw United pay £60m, plus £10m in add-ons, for Casemiro.

Of course, this strategy is not without its critics. Many believe that signing players who can improve this team, will require hefty transfer fees. But Ineos are sticking to their guns and are looking to save money in the process.

Another way United can make their money stretch further this summer, is by looking at their existing squad and seeing which players can offer the Reds greater depth, without splashing the cash. Whether it be injuries, loans or their emergence from the academy, MEN Sport has spotted four players who can give Michael Carrick different options this season.

Shea Lacey

Before the Rosenborg game, all eyes were on JJ Gabriel to see if he would make his United debut. As it transpired, United chose to save Gabriel for another day, with the Reds opting for the slow and steady approach to his first-team introduction. In the 15-year-old wonderkid’s absence, Lacey excelled.

It wasn’t too long ago that the 19-year-old had the attention of United fans after his highlights from youth games went viral. Against Rosenborg, Lacey showed he is maturing into a gifted player and his involvement from the start in Norway suggests he is seen by Carrick as a senior player now.

Competition is fierce in attacking midfield, particularly with Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha and Amad all vying for minutes. But after three Premier League appearances last season, it is time for Lacey to make that next step.

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Mason Mount

Lacey’s emergence in pre-season could be seen as a disaster for Mount. The former Chelsea man was already struggling to play in his natural No.10 role thanks to Fernandes and the change back to 4-2-3-1. Adding a fresh academy player to the mix was the last thing he needed.

However, the World Cup has come to his rescue this summer. Mount has been deployed in a deeper role alongside new signing Andrey Santos and that partnership is showing early promise.

“He’s a little bit more defensive, so it allows me to push on a little bit more forward in these last two games and work off him,” Mount said of their partnership last week. United have not signed their third midfielder yet and if Mount continues to do well in the pivot, there won’t be a rush to add another face in the centre.

The big thing for Mount is for him to keep himself fit. The 27-year-old missed nine Premier League games due to injury last season and each issue knocked his momentum. A consistent run of games this campaign should benefit both him and United.

Matthijs de Ligt

Cast your minds back to 2025, De Ligt was on course to becoming one of the players of the season for United. He did not miss a minute of the Reds’ opening 13 Premier League games and was a rock at the heart of defence.

Sadly for him, a back injury suffered following the victory at Crystal Palace in November, has left him sidelined ever since. De Ligt will now miss the start of the season after successfully undergoing surgery, but the hope is he will be back before Christmas.

If that timeline works out, United could get a huge boost going into the second half of the season. Should he be the same player as before his injury, De Ligt could easily become irreplaceable in the middle again.

At 26, he still has plenty of years in the tank. The Dutchman has every chance of starting afresh post-recovery.

Marcus Rashford

In an ideal world, United would still sell Rashford this summer. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since he was scoring 30 goals in a single campaign. But the Reds are willing to reintegrate him into their squad when he returns from his post-World Cup break if no suitable bids are submitted for him.

Should he stay, Rashford will return as a player with 28 combined goals and assists last season in La Liga. That’s not a shabby record in any of the top five divisions and if he can recreate that in the Premier League, United would be happy.

He would likely start behind Cunha this season but his return should allow the Reds to save money on a new left winger, at least for this transfer window. Rashford has a long road to redemption, but United fans would soon welcome him back if he hit the ground running under Carrick.

Several months ago, the Vikings opted to move on from veteran defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Minnesota then did next to nothing from within free agency before opting for Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange in the 2026 NFL Draft.

Does adding a hulking defensive lineman from within the NFL’s trade market make sense?

ESPN’s Adam Schefter passed along the news on social media, writing, “Source: Vita Vea has requested a trade from the Bucs.” Likewise, Ian Rapoport sent along word of the DT’s desire, doing so with some added clarity about what’s spurring the trade ask: “Vea had hoped for a long-term contract extension and talks stalled. Now, he wants out.”

Hulking Defensive Lineman Vita Vea Wants a New Home

Seeing Minnesota make a move for Vita Vea appears unlikely. But while that’s true, the possibility isn’t too unrealistic.

At 6’4″ and close to 350 pounds, Vea is a presence. Very few are capable of standing out as being unusually large on a football field. Vea is among those unique few who looks massive even among NFL athletes. And while he’s a juggernaut at nose tackle, Vea can offer help as a pass rusher, made evident in his 4.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits in 2025.

Do the Vikings actually need him? That’s going to depend on the team’s perspective on the DT depth, or lack thereof. Check out the current outlook:

• DT1 Jalen Redmond
• DT2 Levi Drake Rodriguez
• DT3 Caleb Banks
• DT4 Domonique Orange
• DT5 Elijah Williams
• DT6 Eric Johnson
• DT7 Isaiahh Loudermilk
• DT8 Taki Taimani
• DT9 Jahvaree Ritzie
• DT10 Smith Vilbert

Quite possibly, Ty Ingram-Dawkins belongs within that cluster of talent. At minimum, the sophomore appears likely to get work as a 5-tech (across from the offensive tackle). But then there’s the possibility of going further inward to play across from the guard and/or further outward in more of an edge rusher’s role.

— READ MORE: Vikings Step into Batter’s Box and Take a Good Swing —
— READ MORE: Vikings Begin Pruning Roster with 3 Moves —
— READ MORE: A 53-Man Roster Projection as Training Camp Begins —

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Even without Ingram-Dawkins, the Vikings have plenty of defensive linemen. None, though, offer the same résumé as Mr. Vea.

The juggernaut of a nose tackle got chosen at No. 12 in the 2018 NFL Draft. He has more than lived up to that draft slot by playing terrific football for the Buccaneers from 2018 through to 2025. He has been to the Pro Bowl a pair of times and likely would have secured more recognition as being among the NFL’s top DTs if he didn’t share a league with Aaron Donald for several seasons.

Per Over the Cap, Vea is moving into the final year of the four-year extension that got added onto his rookie deal. Vea’s second contract came in at $71 million. His cap charge sits at north of $22 million. Whoever trades for him would be welcoming $18 million for the 2026 season.

But, of course, there’s the other shoe that needs to drop: Vita Vea wants an extension. Extending the rugged defensive lineman would mean wiping away a pile of that cap charge.

In the past, top defensive tackles have demanded a 1st on the trade market. Tampa Bay is very unlikely to get so much back. Being older and demanding an extension on the other end ensures that desiring a 1st isn’t going to happen. Does a contending team send over a Day 2 pick?

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Vita Vea will turn 32 in February of 2027.

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Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

The Indiana Fever said in a statement that they had no knowledge of a Tuesday night rally in support of guard Sophie Cunningham’s after her recent statements about transgender athletes. The rally took place outside of Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena prior to the Fever’s 105-95 win over the Seattle Storm. 

The rally consisted of a “few dozen” people who were there to support Cunningham and two Washington state initiatives that would bar transgender students from participating in girls’ athletics in state schools, per the Associated Press.

Neither Cunningham nor Caitlin Clark were made available to the media after the win. Kelsey Mitchell and Monique Billings joined coach Stephanie White at the podium. When White was asked about the rally and Cunningham’s comments, Fever PR stepped in with a statement: 

“Neither our organization nor Sophie had any knowledge of this demonstration and no contact with its organizers. Our only goal as a team, whether at home or away, is to win basketball games and make Fever fans for life, and we are united in that mission.”

The Storm also released a statement prior to the game, saying they were aware of the rally and “tracking it closely.” The team added it is “committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all guests.”

Additionally, Storm coach Sonia Raman made a comment during her pre-game press conference:

“Seattle and this organization and Climate Pledge, we always want to be an area where people feel welcome coming into this building. I think we’ve always done a really good job with that. So, I know our organization was working closely with Climate Pledge and the security just to make sure that everybody feels safe and included and welcome when they walk in this door.

“From what I understand, that was successful.”

However, the Storm ownership did release an apology on Wednesday after it was reported that Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton directed expletives at two fans sitting courtside who were visibly supporting Cunningham and her comments.

“We are aware one of our co-owners made comments to two fans in attendance at last night’s game. We apologize that this happened,” Storm majority owner Ginny Gilder said in a statement released Wednesday. “Everyone who attends a Storm game deserves to feel welcome, and we remain committed to creating an inclusive environment where every fan is treated with respect.”

What has Cunningham said?

In a recent ESPN profile, Cunningham said, as part of a discussion about her political views, that she wants to “protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.”

She doubled down on those comments when asked about them prior to the Fever’s win over the Connecticut Sun on July 22. 

“I said what I said. I think it’s kind of common sense,” Cunningham said. “And I think I’ll always believe in that. I think it’s really important to protect children, and that’s little girls who are also involved in that category. I stand on what I said.”

Cunningham added that she doesn’t “dislike anyone” and that there’s “room to love everyone. She continued, “I’m also there to love biological women, and I think that there are rights that need to be protected. And, like I said, I’m gonna stand true to that. I’ll never falter in my beliefs in that. But I have never once stated that I hated the trans community.”

The Fever released a statement on July 22 after Cunningham’s pre-game media session:

“Our players are thoughtful adults with their own perspectives and voices, and those views are their own,” the statement said. “We are committed to welcoming fans from every background and treating everyone with respect, and that’s what guides us as an organization.”

Olympic champion cyclist Emma Finucane insists she has “nothing to prove” at the Commonwealth Games despite her ambitions of winning an elusive gold in Scotland.

Finucane, 23, collected two bronze medals in Birmingham four years ago but has since won 16 medals at the Olympics, World and European Championships.

The Welsh star says she is targeting “the top step” on the podium in Glasgow.

“I haven’t actually stood on the top step at the Commonwealth Games,” Finucane told BBC Sport Wales.

“That’s something I’d love to achieve this time round.

“I feel like I’m a different person four years on and I can’t wait to show what I can do on the track.”

The Carmarthenshire native credits the Birmingham 2022 Games as the “springboard” to where she is today.

“I would not be where I am today without the Commonwealth Games,” she said.

“The first time I was pretty young, pretty naive to the sport of sprint cycling.

“It was a very overwhelming experience, whereas this time round I feel like I’m more of an established rider.”

She added: “I was 19 [in Birmingham] and the year after I won my first world title, which was crazy for me.

“I think it gave me the confidence I needed as an athlete to develop in my career, and get to where I am so quickly.

“We became Olympic champions two years ago, and I actually don’t even know how that happened.”