Eddie Hearn has predicted that Conor Benn will soon retire from boxing, after his former ally’s emphatic loss to Ryan Garcia.

Last week, Garcia stopped Benn in the second round, retaining the WBC welterweight title in their Las Vegas main event.

Garcia, 28, dropped Benn with a hard right hook, and although the Briton beat the referee’s count, he was overwhelmed by the American, forcing the referee to stop the fight.

Benn, 29, later said he was unsure what his next move will be, and that his priority is spending time with his family. He had previously suggested, however, that he will move back up to middleweight next.

In any case, Hearn has now discussed the fight, which was Benn’s second after leaving Hearn’s Matchroom promotion in a shocking move in February.

“My last few predictions were that I thought Ryan Garcia would win inside three rounds,” Hearn told iFL TV.

“I just felt [Benn] looked lost. I don’t know, didn’t really look like himself… and in the ring he looked all over the place, he looked like a rabbit in headlights.

“Listen, Conor Benn will be done in the next year or so. He may have one more fight. Who knows? He may not even fight again. He’s made his money.”

Doubling down on the sentiment, Hearn said: “Yeah, I do [think he’ll retire soon]. I think he wants his money, and he’s made a load of money. What else is there?

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“He’s not gonna beat anyone of any significance at 160lb [middleweight], so what are you in the game for? He’s in the game to make money, and he’s done that.

“I don’t think he’s gonna wanna hang around in the sport of boxing; he’s got other interests, he’s got family.”

Benn and Hearn’s split was a stunning one, with Matchroom having stood by the “Destroyer” during a drug-test saga that lasted from 2022 until 2024, only for the fighter to join Hearn’s rival Dana White at Zuffa Boxing.

Benn had failed two drug tests in summer 2022 and was provisionally suspended from fighting in the UK, until he was cleared to do so again in late 2024. He maintained his innocence throughout the episode.

Benn was reportedly offered $15m to sign with Zuffa on a one-fight deal, and his promotional debut came against Regis Prograis in April. On the undercard of Tyson Fury’s win over Arslanbek Makhmudov, Benn outpointed the former world champion, who was boxing at a career-highest weight and retired after the bout. Benn then extended his Zuffa deal and faced Garcia.

His likeliest next move is a trilogy bout with Chris Eubank Jr, with whom he traded middleweight wins in 2025. Eubank Jr outpointed Benn in April, before his bitter rival returned the favour in November – scoring two knockdowns along the way.

Eubank Jr, 36, was quick to mock Benn after his loss to Garcia, while middleweight champion Denzel Bentley this week offered Benn a shot at his WBO belt.

A staple of college football could be on its last leg.

December and January always include bowl games, matchups with teams that typically would not play each other during the season, often with unique trophies or postgame celebrations based on the bowl game sponsor. The Duke’s Mayo bath, The Potato Bowl trophy, the Pop-Tart mascot, and all these fun and unique moments could soon become a thing of the past.

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Brett McMurphy of On3 wrote yesterday that the 24-team College Football Playoff, which is all but certain to come to fruition, will likely spell the end of the traditional bowl system.

McMurphy notes the change to 24 teams could come as early as 2028, but could be 2030. And what will that mean for traditional bowl games? There could be stand-alone bowl games before the season instead, according to some bowl executive directors.

However, the logistics of that could be tricky when it comes to television contracts, as well as starting fall camp earlier.

We’ve seen a recent decline of bowl games with the expansion of the playoff, as teams that narrowly missed the playoffs opted not to play in them. However, it seems like the 24-team expansion could be what ultimately ends the bowl system.

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McMurphy’s piece on the state of the bowl system is well worth the read. You can read it in full here.

Tweet of the Day

Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly and director Mark Walter have sold their stakes in the club to majority owner Clearlake Capital, giving the investment firm full control of the Premier League club.

Clearlake, led by co-founders Behdad Eghbali and Jose E. Feliciano, previously owned 61.5% of Chelsea. Boehly, Walter and Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss each held 12.8%.

Chelsea said Wyss will remain an “important stakeholder and partner” in the ownership group.

Boehly, who became chairman in 2022 after the consortium completed its £2.3 billion takeover of Chelsea from Roman Abramovich, will now leave the position.

It is understood that Clearlake has paid close to £1 billion for the stakes held by Boehly and Walter, although people close to the deal put Chelsea’s overall value at around £5 billion.

The change follows reports of a rift within the ownership group, with both sides having explored the possibility of buying each other out.

In his farewell message, Boehly thanked those who helped the club during his time as chairman.

“It has been an honour to serve as Chairman of Chelsea Football Club,” Boehly said.

“I would like to thank the many who helped secure a bright future for the Club, including the English Premier League, the coaches and players, the talented leadership and staff at Chelsea, and the legions of dedicated fans.

“I have valued my partnership with Clearlake and the wider ownership group, and the collective decisions and investment we have made to support the immediate and long-term success of the Club.

“I am confident that Chelsea is well positioned for continued success under Clearlake’s leadership.”

Boehly and Walter have also sold their stakes in Chelsea’s partner club, French Ligue 1 side Strasbourg.

Since the 2022 takeover, Chelsea’s highest Premier League finish has been fourth, achieved in the 2024-25 season. The club also won the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup during that campaign.

Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League last season and appointed Xabi Alonso as their manager in the summer.

The club has also gone through major changes to its squad since the takeover, with the ownership initially focusing on signing younger players on long-term contracts.

Eghbali and Feliciano thanked Boehly for his “time and contribution” as chairman, saying he will “always be a part of the Chelsea story and family”.

They said their focus would remain on investing in Chelsea’s infrastructure, sporting performance and player development while working towards long-term success.

Chelsea also has plans to either redevelop Stamford Bridge or move to a new stadium, an issue that has reportedly caused tension within the ownership group.

Despite Clearlake taking full control, the club said there would be “no changes to the day-to-day operations, leadership or strategy at the club”.

Boehly, who is also a co-owner of baseball franchise the Los Angeles Dodgers, had been chairman since the 2022 takeover.

Jürgen Klopp’s Germany era has begun as the new head coach announced his first squad on Thursday.

To manage the newly organized international break that sees the September and October pauses merged into one, Klopp selected 44 players splitting them into two squads across the four games. Klopp did add though, that Nico Schlotterbeck, Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry might stay for the whole two weeks. Goalkeeper Finn Dahmen is also in both squads as Klopp wants to take a closer look at him.

“I want to get to know as many players as possible,” said Klopp at the press conference. There is no A or B team. The squads are put together in a way that makes sense on the pitch and in terms of character and experience.

“There are few names here that will surprise, but we wanted it to be a part of their development,” he added. 

“We didn’t look at what we were missing but rather what we have and realized how much football talent we have.”

There were a total of 11 new players included, with the biggest surprise being Hoffenheim’s Bambase Conte, Stuttgart defender Finn Jeltsch, Celtic’s Mika Baur, and Freiburg’s Derry Scherhant. Younes Ebnoutalib, Frankfurt‘s breakout forward, was included, with Klopp saying he was a “huge talent” who was “hugely delighted” to be included.

Felix Keidel, the 23-year-old midfielder from Elversberg who has played just three Bundesliga games was another big surprise. Keidel can also play at right back, but has been predominately used as a holding midfielder since the small-town team won promotion to the top flight.

Politically, Klopp wants to win back the flag

Klopp spoke at length on many subjects, saying he wanted more from his players, that how the team played was more important than who played, and that his whole career had prepared him for this job. He also spoke on what it means to be German in the modern political and social climate.

“I hope that I don’t have to talk about politics in future press conferences but from my sporting perspective, I would like to win back the flag,” said Klopp. “I want us to always wave it in a way that makes no one think: ‘What’s wrong with you?’ But rather, that people simply get the feeling that you’re happy and understand how lucky you are to have been born, raised, or moved to this wonderful country.”

“It’s more important that we have doctors. It’s more important that we have nurses. It’s more important that we have a great, great many people in a wide variety of professions,” said Klopp, before adding that football can “foster a sense of community that lets us truly feel the power of sports,” he said, citing Zverev’s recent success in tennis and the basketball World Cup.

ter Stegen one of many old faces who return to Germany squad

Marc-Andre ter Stegen returns to the Germany squad after a lengthy injury layoff, and Klopp called him the number one at the moment. The 33-year-old goalkeeper, who is now playing his club football at Ajax, last appeared for Germany in the Nations League Finals last summer.

“I’ve known Marc-Andre for a long time,” Klopp said. 

“He has the right amount of experience. He is a keeper that can play with the ball and he is also an excellent shot-stopper. Everything depends on performance.”

Said El Mala was included. The Cologne youngster was a surprise inclusion in Germany’s World Cup qualifying campaign in November 2025, but didn’t make an appearance. He is widely expected to be one of the faces of this new Germany team under Klopp.

Notable absences in this first Germany squad under the new boss were Deniz Undav, Leroy Sane and Oliver Baumann. 

Germany’s international break starts in Amsterdam against the Netherlands on September 24, before a home game in Augsburg against Greece three days later. On October 1, Germany are to play Serbia in Munich before traveling to Thessaloniki to play Greece in the final game of the international break on October 4.

Germany’s squad for Netherlands (a) and Greece (h)

Goalkeepers

• Marc-Andre ter Stegen (33, Ajax)
• Alexander Nübel (29, Stuttgart)
• Finn Dahmen (28, Augsburg)

Defenders

• Hennes Behrens (21, Augsburg)
• Max Rosenfelder (23, Freiburg)
• Philipp Treu (25, Freiburg)
• Jonathan Tah (30, Bayern Munich)
• Nico Schlotterbeck (26, Borussia Dortmund)
• Nathaniel Brown (23, Bayern Munich)
• Josha Vagnoman (25, Stuttgart)
• Yann Aurel Bisseck (25, Inter Milan)

Midfielders

• Joshua Kimmich (c) (31, Bayern Munich)
• Nadiem Amiri (29, Mainz)
• Yannik Engelhardt (25, Freiburg)
• Felix Nmecha (25, Borussia Dortmund)
• Anton Stach (27, Leeds)

Attackers

• Bambasé Conté (23, Hoffenheim)
• Kai Havertz (27, Arsenal)
• Chris Führich (28, Stuttgart)
• Jamal Musiala (23, Bayern Munich)
• Lennart Karl (18, Bayern Munich)
• Younes Ebnoutalib (23, Eintracht Frankfurt)
• Serge Gnabry (31, Bayern Munich)
• Kevin Schade (24, Brentford)

Germany’s squad for Serbia (h) and Greece (a)

Goalkeepers

• Noah Atubolu (24, Eintracht Frankfurt)
• Finn Dahmen (28, Augsburg)
• Jonas Urbig (23, Bayern Munich)

Defenders

• Waldemar Anton (30, Borussia Dortmund)
• Ridle Baku (23, RB Leipzig)
• Finn Jeltsch (20, Stuttgart)
• Maximilian Mittelstädt (29, Stuttgart)
• David Raum (28, RB Leipzig)
• Malick Thiaw (25, Newcastle)

Midfielders

• Mika Baur (22, Celtic)
• Tom Bischof (21, Bayern Munich)
• Vitaly Janelt (28, Brentford)
• Felix Keidel (23, Elversberg)
• Aleksandar Pavlovic (22, Bayern Munich)

Attackers

• Jonathan Burkardt (26, Eintracht Frankfurt)
• Nick Woltemade (24, Juventus)
• Karim Adeyemi (24, Barcelona)
• Said El Mala (20, Cologne)
• Brajan Gruda (22, RB Leipzig)
• Florian Wirtz (23, Liverpool)
• Derry Scherhant (23, Freiburg)

Edited by: Chuck Penfold

JJ Gabriel has shocked Manchester United by asking to leave the club

JJ Gabriel has been told he’s ‘spitting his dummy out’ after Roy Keane delivered a blunt message to Manchester United, insisting the club cannot afford to indulge a frustrated 15‑year‑old at a time when Michael Carrick is under pressure and desperate for wins. United were caught by surprise when Gabriel requested to leave the club this week.

United chiefs were left stunned by the revelation, particularly as the plan had been to include Gabriel in the squad to face Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday night ahead of a possible debut. Had he featured in the 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford, a game United led 2-0, he would have become the youngest player in the club’s history.

Even so, United believe the situation can still be resolved, with time left on his contract. Gabriel cannot be de‑registered, but he will be able to negotiate a move abroad once he turns 16 next month, helped by the fact he holds an Irish passport.

Speaking on The Overlap, Keane addressed the situation but stressed above all that United need wins, having lost their last two matches. “Carrick’s under pressure. Obviously, [Sir Alex] Ferguson, we go back and sometimes you’d throw lads into the first team, but United they need wins,” he said.

“I don’t think United are in the position to go ‘We can write off a cup game tonight and play a couple of young lads’. No, we need to get some wins, we need to get some momentum into the season and if some 15-year-old is spitting his dummy out, we’ll deal with that.”

Carrick also broke his silence on the issue following the loss to Brighton. “I just think we’ve got to be really careful of the whole situation, you know,” he admitted.

“He’s a young boy, he’s 15, and for me, definitely, and from a club point of view, is looking after our younger players, their welfare, their well-being, their exposure, and I think we’ve got to be really, all of us, I think we’ve got to be really conscious of that, really, in this situation.”

Carrick reiterated that the situation surrounding Gabriel was a sensitive one when speaking to Sky Sports. “It’s more about the welfare, the care and the attention of JJ as a child, really,” he said.

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“He’s certainly a young man. The situation is what it is, but we have to be careful about the exposure on that one.”

The 15‑year‑old prodigy is yet to make an official first‑team appearance, though he did feature for Carrick’s side during pre‑season. Gabriel has been a regular in senior training sessions after his outstanding campaign for United’s U18s last season, scoring 26 goals in 29 matches.

However, Gabriel’s future is now in doubt after he submitted a request to have his registration cancelled, though United have yet to accept it. The club still believe the situation can be resolved, but their chances of keeping hold of their academy gem could be complicated as the forward approaches his 16th birthday next month.

He is not short of admirers, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint‑Germain and Bayern Munich among the clubs targeting the youngster. Madrid are understood to have scouted Gabriel and were impressed by his recent performance against Sabah, where he bagged a hat-trick in the UEFA Youth League.

As he is eligible for a European passport, Gabriel could potentially move to clubs on the continent.

Jürgen Klopp selected 44 players across two separate Germany squads on Thursday ahead of four Nations League fixtures, while opting to drop the nation’s top scorer from the World Cup.

Klopp’s double squad selection turns upcoming matches against the Netherlands, Greece and Serbia into an extended audition for positions prior to the next major tournament, the 2028 European Championship in the UK and Ireland.

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Established stars such as Florian Wirtz and Kai Havertz are likely to be restricted to a maximum of two matches, as Klopp seeks to introduce fresh faces and manage physical demands on players.

The decision continues an unconventional start to his career in international football, having previously threatened to resign should he feel media scrutiny proved too intrusive or criticism became excessively overwhelming.

A significant portion of those called up on Thursday have never represented Germany at senior level, with candidates like Elversberg midfielder Felix Keidel and Eintracht Frankfurt forward Younes Ebnoutalib having played only a few top-flight club games.

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The sole squad constraint during the league phase requires teams to submit a 23-man matchday roster before midnight ahead of each fixture, though players can be swapped between matches.

There was no place for Deniz Undav, who topped Germany’s scoring charts with three goals and two assists at the World Cup before a round-of-32 penalty shootout loss against Paraguay ended coach Julian Nagelsmann’s reign. Galatasaray winger Leroy Sané was also omitted, leaving him unable to add to his 80 international caps.

Germany stumbled through their group at this summer’s tournament, beating Curacao and Ivory Coast before losing to Ecuador.

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They then suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Paraguay on penalties following a 1-1 draw. Germany have failed to win a major tournament since the 2014 World Cup, and have regularly underperformed over the past decade.

Klopp has brought in to try and turn their fortunes around, and his assignment will begin later this month.

Germany will face the Netherlands on 24 September, before taking on Greece three days later, Serbia on 1 October and Greece again on 4 October, and Klopp is set to use two squads to handle the congested schedule.

Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq (Image: ANI)

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is waiting for the findings of a National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) probe before deciding whether to take disciplinary action against senior players Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq.The development comes after the Lahore High Court dismissed Rizwan’s petition challenging the notices issued to him by the NCCIA. Chief Justice Aalia Neelum rejected the petition during Thursday’s hearing after hearing arguments from both sides.Rizwan’s lawyer, Qazi Umair Ali, told the court that his client had been issued notices. The chief justice advised the player to respond to them.“You should go and respond to the notice. On which date was the notice issued to you?” Chief Justice Neelum remarked, as quoted by news agency PTI.The lawyer claimed that Rizwan was questioned at a hotel after the Lord’s Test without being given a notice and that his mobile phone was taken.He said Rizwan had handed over the phone after being told it would be returned within three hours, but it had still not been returned.

NCCIA examining players’ phones

Rizwan’s lawyer also questioned the NCCIA’s authority to investigate the matter. He argued that the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit was the appropriate body to deal with corruption-related concerns involving cricketers and said the case had not been referred to the ICC unit.Rizwan had challenged the NCCIA summons in court, questioning both the agency’s jurisdiction and the nature of the investigation.Meanwhile, the NCCIA is conducting a forensic examination of mobile phones taken from Rizwan and Imam, according to PTI source familiar with the developments. The agency is expected to submit its findings to the PCB next week.“How the PCB decides to move against the two players will now depend on what findings the NCCIA submits to the PCB. If nothing out of the ordinary is found in the forensics examination they will probably get reprieves,” the source said.

PCB to decide next step

The PCB’s decision on possible disciplinary action will depend on the NCCIA report. The board is expected to assess the findings before deciding whether any action is required against the two players.For now, the focus remains on the forensic examination of the phones and the report that the NCCIA is expected to submit to the PCB.

Indian athletes arriving in Nagoya for the 2026 Asian Games faced a series of accommodation and logistical problems on Wednesday, with several contingents waiting for hours before getting rooms.

The rowing team was among the worst affected, with many athletes left without accommodation on the cruise ship designated to house them. Some athletes who received rooms were asked to share them with others.

Shooters also faced delays, while accreditation issues affected India’s pistol shooting head coach, Samaresh Jung. The wushu and table tennis contingents reported lengthy registration procedures as they checked in.

The problems came as India’s athletes and officials were being spread across a cruise ship, container-style accommodation and hotels, instead of staying in a traditional Games Village.

Rowers wait for hours for accommodation

The Indian rowing contingent reached the cruise ship at around 9 am Japan Standard Time, but several members were still waiting for rooms more than 11 hours later. A rower said only a few members had received accommodation by 8:30 pm, while some of those given rooms had been asked to accommodate additional athletes.

The contingent includes 22 men and five women athletes. An official from the Rowing Federation of India said only three of the 22 male rowers had accommodation listed against their names. The official also said the names of three women rowers — Poonam, Aleena Anto and Anshika Bharati — were missing from the hosts’ registration system despite the athletes having valid accreditation.

Food and rest become concerns

The long wait came after a demanding journey for the rowing contingent. One rower said the team had left the Army Rowing Node in Pune on Monday evening, travelled to Delhi and then flew to Japan the following morning after a stopover in Bangkok.

According to the rower, the organising committee provided water during the wait but no proper food. Some athletes relied on food they had carried from India.

The rower also said the team had not been able to get adequate sleep and needed rest, with their competition scheduled to begin on September 19.

Shooters face transport and accommodation delays

The Indian shooting contingent also encountered difficulties after arriving in Nagoya. The shooters reached the airport around 9 pm on Tuesday but reportedly waited nearly three hours for transport. A team member said there was no food available at the airport and that the welcome centre could not provide information on their onward arrangements.

The team eventually reached its hotel around 4 am. Shooters were also moved to a different hotel after the accommodation originally allocated to them was reportedly occupied by other participants.

India’s pistol shooting head coach, Samaresh Jung, faced a separate accreditation problem. His accreditation did not permit him to enter the players’ arena and field of play during competitions. The issue was taken up with the National Rifle Association of India, and a new accreditation was expected to be issued.

Wushu, table tennis face lengthy check-in

The wushu contingent also encountered problems during registration. Six of the seven players were initially able to get rooms on the cruise ship, while one player and two coaches reportedly could not find their names in the accommodation system.

An Indian Olympic Association official later said all the players had received rooms.

The table tennis contingent also described the check-in process as lengthy after reaching the cruise ship, although a team member said the situation had eventually settled.

Equestrians seek funds for horse feed

Indian equestrian riders preparing for the Games have faced a different logistical challenge, with the sport’s IOA-appointed ad hoc committee informing riders that government funds had not yet been released for horse feed and related maintenance expenses in Japan.

An email signed by Lt Col Sandeep Dewan, member (administration) of the ad hoc panel and team leader of the equestrian contingent, said the funds released to the national federation were insufficient to clear some existing expenses. The federation had reportedly used its own funds to cover the shortfall in one case.

The communication also said no government funds had been released for feed and other expenses related to maintaining the horses in Japan.

Athletes spread across ship, hotels and container rooms

The accommodation difficulties stem from the Games’ unusual housing arrangement. Aichi-Nagoya 2026 has not created a conventional centralised Athletes’ Village. Instead, participants are being housed on the Costa Serena cruise ship docked at Nagoya Port, in container-style rooms at Garden Pier and in commercial hotels across Aichi Prefecture.

Around 4,000 to 5,000 athletes are expected to stay on the cruise ship, while about 2,000 are to be housed in the container units. The remaining athletes and officials are being accommodated in hotels, including at locations away from Nagoya for some events.

The South Korean contingent has also raised concerns about the size of the container rooms, while athletes from other countries, including Vietnam, China, Korea and Thailand, have reportedly faced accommodation-related difficulties.