Anthony Joshua is getting ready to return to the ring and his 2026 fight plan is beginning to take shape.

Following a stoppage win over Jake Paul in December last year that, despite doing little for his standing in the heavyweight division, gained him significant interest in the US, Joshua was involved in a tragic car crash that claimed the lives of two close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.

Though he escaped with minor injuries, it was unclear how the physical and mental toll would affect ‘AJ’s future inside the ropes. Now back in training with former rival Oleksandr Usyk, he has confirmed he will continue fighting. That means that talk of a fight against Tyson Fury – who returns this weekend in London – has resumed, but promoter Eddie Hearn recently confirmed to assorted media that his charge will not be going straight in with ‘The Gypsy King,’ instead targeting another long-awaited fight in the interim.

“This is what I want. We need a warm-up fight before we fight Tyson Fury, because AJ’s coming off an accident, he’s rehabilitating his body… We’ll take Deontay Wilder as that warm-up fight and then we’ll fight Tyson Fury in December.”

Joshua and Wilder were once in the position to fight for the undisputed title, but the fight failed to materialise on more than one occasion. With Wilder’s recent win over Derek Chisora, this may be the best chance to make it happen before a retirement ends the prospect for good.

Hearn praised the American’s performance against ‘Del Boy’, but has little doubt that it would not be up to par against Joshua.

“By the way, I respect Wilder and I think he looked much better [against Chisora] than he has done previously. But let me tell you – cause I was 6 feet away – Anthony Joshua will walk through Wilder within 3 rounds.”

The one obstacle that may stand in the way is a hand injury suffered by Wilder during those twelve rounds with Chisora. If he is fit by the end of the summer, this plan looks all the more likely.

Meanwhile, Fury must overcome Russia’s Arslanbek Makhmudov this weekend at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to keep hopes of the ‘AJ’ fight alive.

Owners of On Display are determined to overturn the result from 12 months prior in pursuit of a Stakes win in Adelaide.

The mare, now four years old and under the care of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, heads toward the Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville on April 25, having run fourth there last year en route to victory in the Listed Morphettville Guineas (1600m) a week on.

For Saturday, she holds nominations in the Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m) at Caulfield as well as the Listed City Of Adelaide Handicap (1529m) at Morphettville.

Strategy for the Queen Of The South Stakes hinges on the Anniversary Vase, where barrier three was drawn and Thomas Stockdale is retained to partner.

Price and Kent Jnr have likewise entered Golden Path and Taken into the Anniversary Vase, with Kent Jnr viewing On Display as the standout of their entries.

“She’s the high quality one of ours in the race,” Kent Jnr said.

“She is going well. She found the leader biased track at Flemington difficult to overcome and last time behind Treasurethe Moment, I haven’t seen a race where they have gone that slowly for a long time.

“The sectionals meant she had no chance, but she zipped home as good as anything in the race and she’ll run well.”

Arriving third-up on Saturday, On Display placed third behind Scheelite in the Shaftesbury Avenue Stakes at Flemington March 7, then fifth to Treasurethe Moment in the Sunline Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield March 21.

Taken boasts the minimal impost for the stablemates but draws the widest post in the 14-horse contest.

Kent Jnr was impressed by Taken’s second last out on a yielding track at Flemington.

“I thought he was excellent and he should be a good chance down in the weights, despite the draw,” Kent Jnr said.

A Queensland path awaits Golden Path, whom Kent Jnr expects to improve with another run after his sixth on debut back in the Flemington race Taken contested.

“He’s heading to Queensland and I think he needs another warm up run before he strikes form,” Kent Jnr said.

Visit racing betting markets to find value in the Queen Of The South Stakes.

In 2021, Kirk Cousins played the best ball of his career, and the man who offensively coordinated him is now the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders: Klint Kubiak. So when Cousins praised his new head coach and his lieutenants this week, it made sense.

Cousins touted Kubiak this week, and the familiar partnership could matter for the Raiders’ next step at quarterback.

Las Vegas signed Cousins last week, presumably as a patchover quarterback for Fernando Mendoza, and Cousins thinks the relationship will work because of his prior experience with Kubiak.

Vikings Reunion Energy Followed Cousins to Vegas

Cousins and Kubak ride again in the AFC West.

Cousins on Kubiak

The former Viking spoke with Raiders reporters this week, unshy about recalling Minnesota memories.

“Thrilled to be here. It’s such an iconic logo, iconic jerseys, so to get to be a part of it is a real privilege to me. I think it starts with the coaching staff. I was really excited about being able to work with coaches I worked before. Klint Kubiak, Rick Dennison, Andrew Janocko,” Cousins said.

“I had some of my best years playing with them, and coaching is a big deal in this league. A big reason why I’m sitting in this chair and I’m now a Raider is because of Klint Kubiak. I can talk about him all I want, but my actions really show what I think of him by being here. Great football mind and extremely hardworking. There’s a humility there that I deeply respect.”

It also helps that Kubiak won a Super Bowl two months ago as the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, helping to propel another ex-Viking, Sam Darnold, to the championship.

A New Pile of Cash, Too

Cousins is set to earn a fully guaranteed $20 million in 2026. Although his contract is structured as a five-year, $172 million deal, it essentially operates as a one-year, $20 million agreement. Entering the offseason, when it seemed evident that Atlanta would drop him, some wondered if Cousins might sign a minimum deal to re-establish his market value, but this did not happen.

Cousins continued his pattern of securing high-value contracts. After receiving $100 million in guaranteed dough from Atlanta in 2024 and 2025, he is now collecting the aforementioned $20 million from Las Vegas. The outcome aligns with Cousins’ reputation for maximizing his earnings.

The Raiders also hold a two-year, $80 million option for the following offseason, depending on Mendoza’s progress. If Mendoza develops successfully, Las Vegas can transition without major complications.

In all likelihood, Cousins will be a free agent next March, and he’ll do the same song and dance again.

Probably a Month to Post a Winning Record

The Raiders do not live in an easy division, and Cousins will have Mendoza breathing down his neck for the QB1 job, assuming he topples Mendoza at training camp for the QB1 job. How can he keep Mendoza at bay? Well, the simplest way to think about it is a winning record. If the Raiders exit September with a 2-2 or 3-1 record, for example, the Cousins show will likely continue. Anything worse than that would pave the way for Mendoza’s insertion into the starting lineup.

After all, first overall picks always see the QB1 job before too long, and frankly, it’s a little weird that Cousins is in town to serve as a patchover quarterback. Most franchises tear the band-aid off these days and let it rip. See: Caleb Williams in 2024 and Cam Ward in 2025.

Cousins has one big chance to help the Raiders stack wins before Mendoza inevitably takes over.

He also has the humility for the job. Cousins said this week, “Honestly, I don’t want to start unless I’m the best option. I told Klint that: The best player should play. Certainly, as long as that’s the case, I have no qualms about how it plays out. I do think Fernando is going to be a great addition to our team. I think he’s going to have a great future in the league.”

“I have no problem being a voice in the room to help him to the degree that I can. … Being able to watch a veteran quarterback go through his habits, routine and process, that can be a great asset for him. … It’ll be a noisy quarterback room, we’ll all be helping each other, and we’ll all be pulling in the same direction.”

Cousins’ Numbers with Kubiak

The new Raiders signal-caller became a full-time starter in 2015 for the Washington Commanders. There are his NFL rankings per EPA+CPOE since then, with the rankings in bold during the Kubiak years:

Cousins played his most consistent ball with Kubiak’s tutelage, so perhaps in 2026, he can turn the clock back to 2021 or 2022.

Oddsmakers, though, are not high on the Raiders. They expect Kubiak and Co. to win four or five games next season.

In the other match of the evening, Atletico Madrid claimed a surprising 2-0 victory over Barcelona. Antoine Griezmann’s side capitalised on Pau Cubarsí’s red card in the 43rd minute to gain a significant advantage ahead of the second leg in Madrid next Tuesday.

In tennis, Daniil Medvedev had a nightmare day in Monte Carlo. The world No. 10 lost 6-0, 6-0 to Italy’s Matteo Berrettini, a first in his career.

Seasoned race followers may recognise Fatty Finn for his breakthrough maiden success as favourite at Sale.

The moniker comes from a Sydney-originated 1920s comic character, featured in an 1980s film led by Ben Oxenbould.

On his third run, the horse triumphed in the Programmed Property Services Maiden Plate (1415m) at Sale last Wednesday.

Charlotte Littlefield prepares Fatty Finn, alongside Bruiser Murphy, the cleverly named debut winner at Moe, owned by the same group.

Littlefield, who strapped at Sale on the day, soon recounted a delightful history for Fatty Finn.

“Ben, the actor who played the character in the movie, got in touch with us,” Littlefield told racing.com.

“He’s going world-wide this horse and now that he’s won, he’s going to be even more famous.

“It’s a great story.”

Ridden by Zac Spain at $2.10 favourite odds, Fatty Finn led throughout and won by 1-½ lengths from Just For Kicks ($5), with She’s Got The Cash ($6) a head back third.

“He rode that to perfection,” Littlefield said.

“He took luck out of the equation, he went forward and the horse was too good.

“A big thank-you to Lyn Joyce who has entrusted this horse in my care, and she has two horses, very well named, Bruiser Murphy and Fatty Finn.”

Littlefield is set for England’s Magnolia Cup in July at the Glorious Goodwood Carnival, a ‘Ladies Day’ charity race for 12 riders from business, sport, fashion, and media after intensive coaching.

“I grew up just down the road, so Goodwood was my local racecourse,” Little said.

“To now return here and compete at such a prestigious event is truly a pinch-me moment.”

Discover racing betting markets offering great value on events like the Sale maiden plate.

The former Manchester United goalkeeper has lifted the lid on his life since leaving Old Trafford

Ex-Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has opened up about his year spent away from the game. The Spaniard has referred to those 12 months as the “best” of his life.

De Gea became a legend at Old Trafford. The now 35-year-old won the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup under Sir Alex Ferguson as he claimed the mantle as one of the greatest shot-stoppers in the game.

After 12 seasons at United, he left in July 2023 and spent the entirety of the 2023/24 season as a free agent before signing with Serie A club Fiorentina, where he continues to play his football to this day. Thursday will see De Gea return to English shores with La Viola as they take on Crystal Palace in the first leg of the Europa Conference League quarter-finals.

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The former Atletico Madrid star has endured a mixed season in Florence, with Paolo Vanoli’s side becoming embroiled in a relegation fight. De Gea and his team-mates have since pulled off a dramatic U-turn, however, and began climbing the Serie A standings.

Touching on his life spent outside of the sport after leaving United, De Gea told Gazetta: “It was an easy decision. After 12 years at United, I needed a break.

“So I took a year off to dedicate to my family and friends: it was the best year of my life. But I continued to train with a coach, Craig, who was very supportive and did a great job with me.

“I was sure I could compete at a high level again. When Fiorentina called me, I was ready. The first time I walked into Rocco B. Commisso Viola Park, I was speechless: there aren’t many facilities like it in Europe.”

De Gea waxed lyrical over his time in Manchester. He labelled Sir Alex a “father figure” and insisted that losing the Premier League in agonising circumstances to city rivals Manchester City in 2012 was the driving force behind United’s title win the following season.

“We lost the Premier League in our first year when City took the title from us with a last-minute win despite our victory over Sunderland. I made up for it by winning it in 2012/13 – every game at United was special,” he continued.

Elaborating on Fiorentina’s difficulties this season, he said: “There’s no explanation. We started badly and put a lot of pressure on ourselves. It was tough for me too, as I found myself fighting for survival for the first time.

“The young players suffered more; in these situations, you have to be mentally strong. I wasn’t at my best either, but I didn’t give up. Hard work is the only way to get out of it.

“The hardest moment was at the end of 2025, when we were last, hadn’t won a game, and the statistics said no one in our situation had ever survived. I was worried then: I felt like I was in a nightmare. Now, however, we’ve improved in many areas and are still in the running in the Conference, but we have to keep working hard.”

The tie against Palace has been one to watch for the star, with returning to England always a tantalising prospect. He concluded: “We’re focused on Serie A, but we have to believe in it. Crystal Palace are strong, and it’ll be great for me to return to England. Winning a trophy would be amazing for the fans; we can do it.”

As Marcus Rashford’s loan spell at Barcelona continues to tick down, one Champions League pundit has pointed out a huge change within the Manchester United academy graduate

Former Premier League star Stephen Warnock believes Marcus Rashford’s personality and character has changed for the better at Barcelona. In his final 18 months at Manchester United, Rashford’s time at Old Trafford was marred by off the field situations and a falling out with former boss Ruben Amorim.

When his opportunities were blocked by the Portuguese boss, Rashford secured a dream move to the Camp Nou and has impressed during his time with the Catalans. While his side were beaten 2-0 at home in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Atletico Madrid, Rashford was impressive, finding the net only to be marginally ruled offside.

He was Hansi Flick’s side’s most dangerous player, recording four shots on target, more than any other player on the pitch. But the biggest change Warnock spotted was the fact he was willing to take on his opposition full-back and beat him at will, which may go some way to convincing the club to sign him from United permanently.

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Warnock, speaking on the BBC Champions League highlights show, said: “He’s just a brilliant player isn’t he? I think what he’s done since he’s gone to Barcelona is, he’s found his form.

“I think he’s found a happy place where he’s enjoying his football. I actually think he should do better in this position when it comes to him, with that acceleration.

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“His touch just gets caught under him ever so slightly. The strike isn’t quite as clean but his movement is brilliant at the moment. What you want from a winger, on the opposing side, is to get in the box and get opportunities.

“Maybe he can take that down, but he’s so confident in himself that he wants to take that shot on first time. Again, arriving at the back post, great goal,[later ruled out] and that’s exactly what you’re after. Hansi Flick will be delighted with that.

“When you’re a full-back, and you’re playing against someone who has pace, who can time his runs well and know he can use that pace, he’s so dangerous in behind. Maybe he could show a little bit more composure, but that confidence he’s got in himself, he’s taking everything on.

“He’s playing alongside (Lamine) Yamal, and you’re thinking, he’s the one over free-kicks, he’s the one trying to be in the ascendancy, on the front foot, taking people on. I think you can see a huge change in character, in personality, in confidence from an outstanding footballer.

“I think from Thomas Tuchel’s point of view, I think it’s the best thing that’s happened for him this year. It gives him another option in forward positions going into the World Cup.”

Considering his display in Catalunya, Rashford will be one of his side’s biggest hopes, when it comes to overturning the two-goal deficit.

It also remains to be seen whether Barcelona decide to take up their option to sign him permanently from United at the end of the campaign.

They have until June 15 to activate a release clause in his deal which would enable them to sign him for around £26m from United.

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.

Indian chess sensation Divya Deshmukh pulled off a superb turnaround converting what looked like a certain draw into victory to climb into joint lead, while compatriot R Praggnanandhaa saw his title hopes take a major hit after a loss against Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri in the eighth round, leaving him almost out of contention for a top finish in the Candidates tournament here.

In the women’s section World Cup winner Deshmukh turned the tables on overnight leader Anna Muzychuk to jump into joint lead with four others including the Ukrainian on 4.5 points from what had seemed a difficult position to defend.

Deshmukh did well to fight on and equalise and then capitalised on an unforced error by her opponent in the queen-and-pawns endgame to score a vital victory.

The other Indian, R. Vaishali drew with Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan to join Deshmukh, Kateryna Lagno of Ukraine, China’s Zhu Jiner and Muzychuk in the lead on 4.5 points after eight games.

The event is wide open now with Jiner giving a knockout blow to the hopes of her Chinese compatriot Tan Zhongyi to move to 4.5 points while Kateryna defeated fellow Russian Aleksandra Goryachkina.

On a day when Uzbek Javokhir Sindarov just decided to consolidate his lead and drew with tail-ender Andrey Esipenko of Russia in the ‘Open’ section, Praggnanandhaa, who had scored his sole victory over Giri in the first round, fell prey to some simple tactics from a seemingly equal position and lost his second game in the tournament.

Sindarov took his tally to 6.5 out of a possible eight and looks headed for victory as his lead now stands at a massive two points with six rounds remaining in the USD 700,000 prize money tournament that will also select the next challenger for reigning world champion D. Gukesh in the world championship match slated later this year.

Sindarov is followed by Giri and Fabiano Caruana of the United States, who both are two points behind and need a miracle to catch up with the leader.

Praggnanandhaa, Wei Yi of China Matthias Bluebaum of Germany and Hikaru Nakamura share the fourth spot on 3.5 points each, a full point clear of last-placed Esipenko.

It was a hard day at work for Praggnanandhaa who started off with the Vienna variation with the black pieces. After initial opening discussions, Giri enjoy a small advantage that the Indian was able to neutralise as the game progressed.

However, it was on the 35th move that Praggnanandhaa made an error allowing Giri to unleash a sequence of moves that proved dangerous. Another mistake three moves later and it was curtains for the Indian.

In another game, Bluebaum played out a draw with Wei of China and the result inched them both up to 3.5 points apiece.

In the big game of the day, Nakamura finally proved his mettle and scored a huge victory over American compatriot Caruana.

Results (Round 8): Anish Giri (Ned, 4.5) beat R Praggnanandhaa (Ind, 3.5); Hikaru Nakamura (USA, 3.5) beat Fabiano Caruana (USA, 4.5); Andrey Esipenko (Rus, 2.5) drew with Javokhir Sindarov (Uzb, 6.5); Wei Yi (Chn, 3.5) drew with Matthias Bluebaum (Ger, 3.5).

Women: Anna Muzychuk (Ukr, 4.5) lost to Divya Deshmukh (4.5); Kateryna Lagno (Rus, 4.5) beat Aleksandra Goryachkina (Rus, 3.5); Bibisara Assuabayeva (Kaz, 3.5) drew with R Vaishali (Ind, 4.5); Tan Zhongyi (Chn, 2.5) lost to Zhu Jiner (Chn, 4.5).

First Published: Apr 08 2026 | 12:45 PM IST