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.

A Scottish gold made up for the fact Scott missed out on his bid to defend his 200m freestyle title and add a 16th Commonwealth medal, having failed to qualify for the final at the end of a rigorous schedule.

And Evans’ success was not the only one cheered to the roof of Tollcross instead.

Aberdeen’s Toni Shaw stopped an Australian clean sweep of medals in the women’s S9 100m freestlye final to replicate the bronze of Birmingham four years ago.

“I had lots and lots of nerves even before the walkout, all day since my heat,” Shaw told BBC Scotland.

“But we’ve got a good support team and they helped me keep my cool and wish me luck. All you can do is swim as fast as you can and that’s the mentality I went into the race with.”

Meanwhile, Keanna MacInnes added 200m butterfly silver, having also come second in the 100m. The 24-year-old played her part in the relay silver too to take her own tally to three.

As she stood next to her relay team-mates Katie Shanahan, Evans, and Evelyn Davis the Stirling swimmer reflected on a Games during which Scottish swimmers have delivered 12 medals, four of them gold.

“If you said to me at the start of the week I’d win two medals I’d be over the moon – sneaking that extra mixed medley one last night was special for all of us,” MacInnes said.

“We heard it a 100 times, about the crowd being amazing but it absolutely delivered. I’m a proud and patriotic Scot so there’s been a lot of tears this week.

“Not only is it 12 medals but there are a lot of golds and silvers, not necessarily sneaking into bronze. That shows the depth.

“There were so many finals with multiple Scots in them. So not just medals but lots of personal and season’s bests which shows how good the team has been this week.”

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.