Rico Verhoeven has shared his reaction after the decision of his appeal over his controversial loss to Oleksandr Usyk was revealed.

Kickboxing legend Verhoeven challenged Usyk for his heavyweight crown at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt last month, in a bout that most people expected to be a big mismatch.

It certainly didn’t transpire that way though, as the Dutchman went toe-to-toe with Usyk for 11 rounds, with it appearing the challenger could be on the verge of one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.

During the closing stages of round 11, Usyk finally found a shot that dropped Verhoeven, and while the kickboxing star was able to get back to his feet, a further flurry in the corner led to referee Mark Lyson stopping the contest, many fans believing prematurely.

Further controversy arose when it transpired that the bell to signal the end of the round had already rung before the stoppage took place, leading to Verhoeven filing a formal appeal against the defeat.

The Dutchman has now announced the outcome of the appeal in a statement on social media, revealing that he was unsuccessful with his challenge as the commission found that the factors at play didn’t change the outcome of the contest.

“On 24 May, we filed a formal protest because we genuinely believed there was a serious question around the way the fight was stopped. On 16 June, we received the Commission’s decision.

“The ruling confirmed that the bell ending Round 11 had already sounded before the referee physically waved off the fight. The official timekeeper said exactly that. The ringside doctor also confirmed that I showed no signs of confusion or disorientation after the bout. The Commission’s view was that none of those findings changed the outcome.”

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Despite failing with his appeal, Verhoeven once again made it clear that he thinks Usyk should do the right thing and grant a rematch.

“Look, this has never been about taking anything away from Oleksandr. He’s one of the greatest fighters of this generation and I have nothing but respect for what he’s achieved. What stays with me is the feeling that, after eleven unforgettable rounds on one of the biggest and most epic stages in the world, the story simply stopped before it reached its ending.

“I truly believe everyone deserved the chance to see how this fight was meant to end. The fans were denied a 12th round. After everything we’d both put into that fight, they deserved to see how it ended.

“So for me, the conclusion is actually very simple. Let’s finish the story and give the fans that immediate rematch!”

For now it appears that Usyk has one of two options for his next bout, with it either being the rematch with Verhoeven, or a clash against WBC mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel.

Argentina began their 2026 FIFA World Cup title defence in impressive fashion with a 3-0 victory over Algeria, thanks to a stunning hat-trick from captain Lionel Messi.

The 38-year-old showed once again why he remains one of football’s greatest players. On his 200th appearance for Argentina, Messi scored all three goals to help the reigning champions secure an important opening win in Group J.

His hat-trick took his World Cup goals tally to 16, drawing level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose as the competition’s highest scorer in history.

Here are three major lessons from Argentina’s victory.

1. Lionel Messi Is Not Done Yet

Many wondered why Messi decided to continue playing for Argentina after winning the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

The veteran forward answered those questions with a brilliant performance against Algeria.

Just days before his 39th birthday, Messi produced moments of magic, scoring a beautiful curling opener before adding two more goals in the second half.

He also became the oldest player to score a World Cup hat-trick and proved he still has the quality to lead Argentina’s attack on the biggest stage.

If this display is anything to go by, Messi is far from finished and remains one of the key players in Argentina’s quest for another world title.

2. Argentina Look Ready to Defend Their Crown

Argentina’s previous World Cup title defences ended badly. They lost their opening matches in both 1982 and 1990 after entering those tournaments as champions.

This time, things were different.

Despite facing a determined Algerian side, Argentina stayed patient and controlled important periods of the match. The team looked organised, confident and experienced.

With players such as Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Nicolas Gonzalez providing quality, Argentina showed signs that they have what it takes to challenge for another World Cup trophy.

3. Algeria Must Learn From Costly Mistakes

Algeria showed flashes of quality and even had a goal ruled out during an exciting first half.

However, costly errors proved expensive. Goalkeeper Luca Zidane’s mistake allowed Messi to score Argentina’s second goal, while defensive lapses gave the Argentine captain too much space.

The North Africans will need to improve defensively if they hope to progress from Group J.

Despite the defeat, Algeria showed enough attacking promise to believe they can bounce back in their remaining matches against Jordan and Austria.

Argentina will now turn their attention to their next group game against Austria, with Messi aiming to move ahead of Klose and become the outright leading scorer in World Cup history.

“I too would have been interested in it had it not worked out [for me],” Joshua Kimmich said. “It’s interesting to learn new things in a different culture and country. They all have a scholarship, which is a cool thing. I had the feeling they were happy with the path they had taken. I think it’s a really interesting option.”

The words of the Germany captain were in reference to three young German footballers playing just five minutes from the fields of Wake Forest University where the likes of Manuel Neuer, Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala are training to realize Germany’s World Cup ambitions.

Linus Musielak (22), Noah Vasilev and Fynn Mewes (both 23) changed their summer plans for the chance to be closer to their football heroes.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Vasilev told DW.

The trio came to the USA to play football for a university on a scholarship. A 2020 survey from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) revealed that 367 men and 126 women from Germany played college soccer in the country. That number is expected to have risen since the last survey and international recruitment is a trend that is now redefining the way college soccer is developing here.

Football dreams and reality

With the college leagues finished, the trio chose to play for Salem City FC in USL League Two (USL2). The league, which operates in the summer, has 158 clubs across 37 states and acts as a pre-professional platform, with the best players drafted into the MLS. All of this will change considerably from 2028 when American college soccer enters an existential revamp, but none of that was decisive for the German lads. The most important factor was it was right around the corner from the four-time World Cup winners.

Roots in Germany, blossoming in the USA

Musielak, who still has ambitions to play professionally, played for amateur club TSC Eintracht Dortmund before making the move across to the US, where he plays college soccer in Boston. Vasilev is from Würzburg and played for Würzburger Kickers youth teams before a lecture on the concept of college soccer helped him make his mind up and move to Chicago. Meves, from Münster, joined him there, after playing for Osnabrück’s youth teams and later fourth-tier Rödinghausen SV.

“Once I started training with the first team more often, I just realized that it probably wouldn’t be enough for the really big leap—like the Bundesliga,” Meves told DW. “I just noticed a lot of them [players] didn’t really have a backup plan. I decided I’d rather have a safety net, and because I realized that it’s hard to build that safety net in Germany, I decided to do this here and take a different path.”

The trio have carved out an education and a life in the US thanks to their footballing ability. Their hopes of meeting their heroes were rewarded when the trio briefly met Nico Schlotterbeck. They talked about the facilities at Wake Forest, and how the pitch is a bit drier than they are used to back home. Vasilev and Meves got even luckier, bumping into Germany captain Joshua Kimmich and goalkeeper Oliver Baumann by chance at a cafe near the campus and ended up talking for about 15 minutes.

A summer of soccer in the USA ― and beyond?

With the New York Knicks sealing the NBA title and the Carolina Hurricanes winning the Stanley Cup, there is hope that America’s sporting radar has a bit more space for the World Cup after a slow start. The three young Germans believe the tournament can change soccer’s standing in the country.

“(Lionel) Messi, along with other stars like Marco Reus, moving to the MLS helped the league and football grow,” said Musielak, a left-footed forward who grew up watching Reus. “College soccer has more international players, the sport is smaller here but is growing and the World Cup will play a large role in that.”

Vasilev is also hopeful that the tournament can change the landscape.

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“Soccer has never really been much of a thing at the big universities,” he said. “First and foremost, it’s always football. And then there’s a long gap, and then comes baseball, basketball, and (ice) hockey, and eventually soccer. Of course, I hope for us, too, that soccer might become a bigger deal.”

Although they miss German bread and the taste of a doner kebab, the trio are an example of another way to make the most of sporting talent. The Bundesliga isn’t the only end goal, and in this case three young men have given themselves a platform to succeed in professional life through the sport they love. And the best part is that this summer, they were able to do so with their football heroes as their neighbors.

Edited by: Chuck Penfold

Depending on who gets asked, the Vikings need more help at pass rusher. Recent news indicates that the available talent has grow a touch more thin.

Saints legend Cameron Jordan is back in New Orleans. Consider some of the basic information that got passed along by Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk: “Defensive end Cam Jordan officially returned to the Saints on Tuesday by signing a one-year deal that he indicated will be his final contract as an NFL player.”

The Vikings Miss on Cameron Jordan as FA Pass Rushers Thin

A major part of the reason why Jordan is back in the Bayou is due to a sense of loyalty to the team and broader area.

Consider the quote from the player himself that gets passed along by PFT: “It’s the idea that I could have played for the same team for my entire career. The loyalty streak has always run deep with me, and I think a couple of years ago me and Mickey sat down and it was like, ‘Look, man, the way you’ve played, the way you’ve handled yourself, you’ll always have a job here.’ Now, it may not be what I think I’m worth or whatever it is, but it’s always been the idea that we’ve had an open line of communication. This is where I wanted to be, and [I] got back here.”

Seeing Cameron Jordan go back to the Saints means that it’s back to the drawing board had there been some desire to steal him away from new GM Nolan Teasley.

Right now, the Vikings are leaning on Andrew Van Ginkel as the EDGE1 alongside Dallas Turner as the EDGE2. Next up would appear to be Eric Wilson and Ty Ingram-Dawkins, both of whom are a touch out of their normal position when playing at edge.

— READ MORE: Vikings O-Lineman Gaining Ground for Job Opening —
— READ MORE: Is that Vikings Rumor Finally Going to Turn into a Deal? —

Otherwise, there’s a cluster of young, unproven players jockeying for position on the depth chart. Think Bo Richter (third-year player who was a UDFA), Tyler Batty (second-year player who was a UDFA), and others within that level of ball.

Does somebody else need to get added?

As things stand, the Vikings are an injury away from being in a dire spot. Van Ginkel missed time last year due to needing some time in the infirmary. Seeing something similar occur would involve the pass rush being left without its most accomplished, proven player.

Worse yet, Turner has yet to fully arrive. Maybe he shows that 2026 is his breakout season (a future many foresee). The former Alabama edge rusher doesn’t lack for talent and has already shown good growth. He is, nevertheless, pretty far off from matching the level that Jonathan Greenard, Danielle Hunter, and other Vikings edge rushers proved capable of providing.

The Vikings are sitting atop a pile of cap space that’s showing roughly $13.4 million in room. No doubt, that’s a number that’s going to move around a bunch in the coming weeks and months, but the broader point remains: the Vikings can add somebody if there’s a desire to do so.

Perhaps the top fit is Jadeveon Clowney, somebody who has been a good edge rusher for a long time and who overlapped with Teasley in Seattle.

Note, as well, that the presence of versatile rookie linebacker Jake Golday inspires some optimism about getting some added help along the edge. Moreover, Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Caleb Banks, and other defensive linemen will be leaned on to make passers skittish.

Cameron Jordan, 36, has been defying normal age limitations for a long time. He’ll look to continue doing so for a Saints team that has finally decided to rebuild after years of futility.

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

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Lionel Messi has spent nearly two decades rewriting football history.

On the opening day of Argentina’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner added another remarkable chapter to his legacy, scoring a hat-trick to become the joint-highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history.

The 38-year-old’s three-goal performance moved him onto 16 World Cup goals, drawing level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose at the top of the all-time scoring charts.

It was yet another reminder that even in the twilight of his career, Messi remains capable of delivering on football’s biggest stage.

Messi Responds To Mbappé And Haaland

Earlier in the day, football fans were celebrating impressive performances from two of the game’s biggest stars.

Kylian Mbappé scored twice as France opened their World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Senegal, while Erling Haaland also found the net twice for Norway.

But as has happened so many times throughout his career, Messi stole the spotlight.

The Argentina captain produced a hat-trick in his nation’s opening match of the tournament, not only securing victory for the reigning world champions but also equalling one of the most prestigious records in football history.

The Greatest Goalscorers In World Cup History

With potentially several matches still to play in this tournament, Messi now has a realistic opportunity to become the outright holder of the record before the 2026 World Cup ends.

A World Cup Career For The Ages

Messi’s World Cup journey began in Germany in 2006.

Twenty years later, he is still producing moments of brilliance on football’s biggest stage.

His World Cup résumé is unmatched:

• FIFA World Cup winner (2022)
• Two World Cup finals
• Golden Ball winner
• Most World Cup appearances by an outfield player
• Joint all-time World Cup top scorer
• 16 World Cup goals
• Countless assists and match-winning performances

The crowning moment of his international career came in Qatar in 2022 when he inspired Argentina to World Cup glory, scoring seven goals and lifting the one major trophy that had previously eluded him.

Many believed that tournament would be his final World Cup.

Instead, Messi has returned in 2026 and is once again making history.

Age Is Just A Number

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Messi’s latest achievement is his age.

At 38, most footballers have long since retired from international football or moved into reduced roles.

Messi, however, continues to decide matches at the highest level.

His hat-trick was a reminder that while football’s next generation, led by Mbappé, Haaland, Jude Bellingham and others, continues to emerge, the sport’s biggest stage still belongs to one of its greatest-ever players.

One More Record Within Reach

For years, Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals appeared untouchable.

Now Messi stands alongside him.

Given Argentina’s ambitions of defending their crown and the form shown by their captain in the opening game, it would be no surprise if the record becomes his alone before the tournament concludes.

And if that happens, it will be yet another milestone in a career that has already redefined greatness.

Anthony Yarde has compared the power of David Benavidez and Artur Beterbiev, who stopped the Brit in rounds seven and eight of their respective contests.

It was back in January 2023 when Yarde felt the full force of Beterbiev’s attacks, giving a spirited effort before ultimately losing his second world title challenge.

Following an eighth-round knockdown, the Ilford man was compassionately pulled out by his corner, with Beterbiev ultimately retaining his WBC, IBF and WBO titles.

Yarde then secured another light-heavyweight world title shot last November, this time facing WBC champion Benavidez in a largely one-sided affair.

Again, Yarde gave a gritty account of himself against a prolific knockout artist, but was eventually stopped on his feet after suffering a seventh-round knockdown.

Benavidez subsequently went on to dethrone Gilberto Ramirez last month, claiming the WBO and WBA titles with a sixth-round finish in his first cruiserweight outing.

But while ‘The Mexican Monster’ clearly carries destructive power, Yarde has told talkSPORT that he felt Beterbiev landed with greater venom.

“I fought them at different times. It’s hard to say. They’re just different fighters stylistically. I’ll say Beterbiev was the strongest, the hardest [puncher]. Believe it or not, I’m in there with Benavidez and he’s whacking [me] but none of these shots are really hurting me. [He’s got] very, very fast hands.”

Having become a three-division world champion, Benavidez must now decide whether to remain at 200lbs or drop back down to 175lbs, where he still holds the WBC title.

Beterbiev, meanwhile, has not fought since losing his rematch with Dmitry Bivol, whose majority decision victory relieved him of his undisputed crown in February 2025.

Since then, the 41-year-old has accused Benavidez of swerving their potential light-heavyweight showdown, while trainer and father Jose Benavidez Sr insists that they are open to negotiations.

Portugal vs DR Congo LIVE Score, FIFA World Cup 2026: Portugal’s FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign is about to begin, as they take on DR Congo in the opening Group K match in Houston. Led by Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal are one of the favourites to go all the way, also boasting stars like Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha and Nuno Mendes. Ronaldo has been named in Portugal’s starting XI, and is set to appear in his sixth World Cup. On the other hand, DR Congo are appearing in only their second-ever FIFA World Cup. Their only previous appearance came in 1974, 52 years ago, when they had qualified as Zaire. Indian-origin midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy is starting for DR Congo. (MATCH CENTRE LIVE)

Portugal vs DR Congo LIVE Updates, FIFA World Cup 2026 LIVE Score, straight from Houston:

One of the quickest ways to improve your scores is to dial in your distance control with your wedges. Of course, that’s easier said than done.

But Drew Stoltz, the co-host of GOLF’s Subpar Podcast, has a drill that can help you take your wedge game to the next level. It’s called the ladder drill.

In the latest episode of Emergency 9, presented by Cobra, Stoltz explains how he uses the drill to get the most out of his Cobra King wedges.

“It’s tailored to improve your distance control with your wedges,” Stoltz said. “All you need is a handful of balls and a chipping green. If you do this over and over before a round, it’s sure to improve your short game.”

So, how does the drill work?

“You find a spot on the green and you give yourself a lot of green to work with,” Stoltz said. “You need some decent space for this drill. Grab a handful of balls, go down off the green and pick out one club. The goal of this drill is to get as many balls on the green as possible with each shot going shorter than the shot before it.

“So, for instance, on my first shot, I’m going to try to get it as close to the back of the green, to the fringe, as possible without going over. For my next shot, I’m going to get as close to that ball as possible but it has to be shorter.”

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Then, you work your way down the ladder until a shot goes past where your last shot landed. However many balls you get on the green before hitting one too far is your score. Then, you pick the balls up and try to beat that score.

“This will dial in your distance control,” Stoltz said. “You’re going to learn how to hit different shots with the same club — low runners, high soft ones. It’s a great way to improve your short game.”

To hear more from Stoltz, check out the entire video above.