According to Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn, unified light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol is likely to pivot away from a mooted rubber match with Artur Beterbiev.

The two Russians first collided in October 2024, back when Beterbiev emerged with a majority decision victory and became the undisputed king at 175lbs.

An eagerly-anticipated rematch then materialised just over four months later, with Bivol exacting his revenge and winning by the same margins of 116-112 and 115-113.

A trilogy showdown was therefore expected to be in play, only for Bivol to undergo back surgery and remain out of action until last May.

This successful ring return saw him defend his IBF, WBO and WBA titles with a shutout points victory over Michael Eifert, while Beterbiev has not climbed through the ropes since losing their rematch.

Still, it seemed their trilogy match was explored for later this year or in early 2027, only for Hearn to suggest that Bivol is more likely to face mandatory challenger Callum Smith.

The Matchroom boss revealed this update via his Instagram story, just over a month after Bivol was ordered to defend his WBO belt against Smith.

💥 Eddie Hearn provides Matchroom updates on IG:

1️⃣ 👀 Callum Smith-Dmitry Bivol likely to be next
2️⃣ 🥊 Catterall has received two other big fight offers since talk of Haney fight
3️⃣ 🔜 Bam to unify in Nov./Dec.
4️⃣ ✅ Vuong recently released
5️⃣ ✍️ New signing TBA this week pic.twitter.com/kDHhPBIIBs

— All Out Boxing (@OutBoxing_) August 9, 2026

Like Beterbiev, Smith has not fought since February 2025, back when he unanimously outpointed Joshua Buatsi in a Fight of the Year candidate.

He was, of course, supposed to face David Morrell last April, only for the 36-year-old to pull out with an injury and leave his Cuban opponent to suffer a shock defeat against Zak Chelli.

But it now seems that Smith, who currently holds the WBO ‘interim’ belt, is set to secure his stab at becoming a two-weight world champion against Bivol. The pair, both represented by Hearn’s Matchroom, have until August 20 to strike a deal before purse bids are called.

Ireland won two more medals at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham on Saturday evening.

Kate O’Connor won GOLD in heptathlon, while Andrew Coscoran won BRONZE in the Men’s 1500m Final.

A silver medallist at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in 2025, O’Connor came into this evening’s final event, the 800m, in the gold medal position, and needed to finish the race within three second of her main rival, Emma Oosterwegel from The Netherlands, to take the gold.

KATE O’CONNOR IS A EUROPEAN GOLD MEDALLIST!

Not only that, she’s beaten the Irish national record.

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She has well and truly written herself into the history books.

Watch all the action on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. pic.twitter.com/ydRy8ILcRL

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 15, 2026

The Dutch athlete did her best to take the time out of O’Connor as she led into the final straight and moved on to claim victory in the heptathlon 800m in 2:10.87.

O’Connor, however, was within a minute of Oosterwegel, crossing the line in 2:11.11, ensuring she claimed the heptathlon gold medal. Sveva Gerevini from Italy, who injected pace into the race down the far side of the track, took second in the race in a time of 2:11.11.

“When I heard cheers like that for me going around those two laps, there was no way I was going to let that gold medal slip through my fingers.”

Kate O’Connor talks to David Gillick after securing European gold in the heptathlon.

Watch live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. pic.twitter.com/6ye47GKmh6

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 15, 2026

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The overall result of the women’s heptathlon was gold for O’Connor with 6,751 points, a new National Record. Silver and Bronze went to The Netherlands, with Emma Oosterwegel second with a personal best score of 6,713 points, and Sofie Dokter also claiming a personal best with 6,664 points.

Coscoran Bronze in Men’s 1500m Final

Andrew Coscoran won a surprise bronze medal in the Men’s 1500 Final this evening.

The Balbriggan native and two-time Olympian finished behind Stefan Nillessen of The Netherlands and Samuel Pihlstrom from Sweden.

The gold medallist clocked 3:35.70, with the runner-up 3:36.16, while the Irish record holder at both 1500m and 3000m, Coscoran, stopped the clock at 3:36.24.

🥇 Stefan Nillessen 🇳🇱 wins GOLD in the men’s 1500m at the European Championships in 3:35.70s.

He made a huge sprint over the final 100m to take the title.

🥈 Samuel Pihlström 🇸🇪 in 3:36.16s.
🥉 Andrew Coscoran 🇮🇪 in 3:36.24s. pic.twitter.com/SeHvehrUAt

— SprintForge (@Tweeterfinger1) August 15, 2026

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Ayyoub Bouaddi’s future has been the subject of transfer speculation in recent weeks, with Manchester City reportedly interested in signing the Lille midfielder

Manchester City have been sent a clear message about the future of Ayyoub Bouaddi by Lille manager Davide Ancelotti. City have been heavily linked with a move for the Morocco international this summer as they look to strengthen their midfield options.

City have already signed Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, but there continues to be speculation around Rodri’s future at the Etihad Stadium.

Rumours also continue to link City with Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, with the west London club reportedly setting a deadline for any clubs wishing to bid for the Argentine star – which has now passed.

There have also been reports over the last few weeks that City will face competition from Arsenal for the signing of Bouaddi, who is said to be valued by Lille at around €100million (£85.6million).

Lille and Everton went head-to-head in a pre-season friendly on Saturday, where Bouaddi featured for the second 45 minutes at Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Ancelotti – son of footballing legend Carlo – acknowledged that Bouaddi is attracting attention from numerous clubs, but stressed his determination to keep the Morocco international at the Ligue 1 side.

“Bouaddi is a very good player. He is available [in terms of his fitness], and he played 45 minutes. But that is only because I have to manage his minutes,” Ancelotti said after Lille’s draw with Everton on Saturday.

“Next week we start the season, and I consider him as an available player for me.

“Of course, there are negotiations. There is interest from so many clubs. He is a really, really good player, and I hope that he is going to stay with us!

“What makes him so special? He has a huge personality.

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“He is incredibly intelligent on and off the pitch, he is really mature. He is 18-years-old, but he looks like he is 32 when he is on the pitch.

“Technically, he is really complete. He is also physical, really strong in duels. He’s going to be one of the best midfielders in Europe for the next 10 years.”

“Technically, he is really complete. He is also physical, really strong in duels. He’s going to be one of the best midfielders in Europe for the next 10 years.”

What lies ahead for Bouaddi remains uncertain, though recent speculation points towards City as the frontrunners, with the youngster seen as a potential successor to Rodri.

Earlier this month, Lille chairman Oliver Letang dropped hints about the fee the club would demand for Bouaddi this summer.

“When I see [Elliot] Anderson move to Manchester City for £116million and [Sandro] Tonali to Tottenham for £100million, and they don’t have the potential for development that Ayyoub has because he possesses unique qualities,” he said.

“I have a price in mind, and we’ll see what happens.”

Former Union Saint-Gilloise and Monaco head coach Sebastien Pocognoli has been lined up as the new Scotland head coach.

The Scottish Football Association is closing in on a deal for the 39-year-old Belgian to be named as Steve Clarke’s replacement and the appointment could be confirmed early next week.

The former Belgium international led Union to the 2024-25 Belgian title in his first season as a head coach.

Pocognoli would be Scotland’s second foreign manager after former Germany boss Berti Vogts, who had a two-and-a-half-year spell in charge in the early part of the century.

Pocognoli had previously worked with youth players at Union, plus Belgium and Genk.

The former West Brom and Brighton left-back moved to Monaco in October last year but was sacked at the end of the season.

Pocognoli led Monaco to the Champions League knockout phase where they lost narrowly to Paris Saint-Germain. However they missed out on qualification for this season’s tournament after a seventh-placed finish in Ligue 1, which gained them entry to the Conference League play-offs.

Clarke stepped down after Scotland’s World Cup group-stage exit was confirmed in June, despite having signed a new four-year contract in the build-up to the tournament.

The former West Brom and Kilmarnock manager had led Scotland to their first three major tournaments of the century in his seven-year tenure.

Marquee signing Will Lankshear notched a second-half double as Championship promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough fought back to kick off their campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 victory and inflict a first defeat in eight and a half months on newly-promoted Lincoln City.

The Imps – playing their first second-tier match in 65 years – made a strong start and opened the scoring in the 12th minute through Adam Reach but former Tottenham forward Lankshear marked his first league appearance since his much-hyped move to the Riverside by equalising just after the hour and then poking in a stoppage-time winner.

It was a devastating end for spirited Lincoln as a run of 29 games undefeated in all competitions since early December was finally brought to a halt.

Another newly-promoted side did leave the opening weekend victorious however as Sam Dalby and Thierry Gale scored first-half goals to enable Bolton beat Preston 2-1 and record a first Championship win since March 2019.

Last season’s League One play-off final winners have been predicted to struggle on their return to the second tier after seven years away but in front of a sellout 26,262 crowd at the Toughsheet Community Stadium, Steven Schumacher’s side largely dominated.

However, they had to hold on at the death after Jusef Erabi headed in fellow substitute Andrija Vukcevic’s cross four minutes from time to give Preston hope.

Meanwhile, Sheffield United and Birmingham City made a much more underwhelming start to the Championship season as they played out a drab goalless draw at Bramall Lane that didn’t suggest either side’s ambition of mounting a promotion challenge will necessarily be particularly successful.

West Brom launched a smash-and-grab raid with a hard-fought 2-1 win at Norwich, enduring long spells of pressure before late goals from Aune Heggebo and Jimmy-Jay Morgan secured an unlikely victory, while young Charlton star Tyreece Campbell netted a stunning 80th-minute goal to complete a 2-1 comeback win for the Addicks over Derby, who ended a week to forget after Saudi government official and boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh’s takeover collapsed on Monday.

Ilias Chair scored twice as QPR came from behind to beat Portsmouth 3-1 and claim their first win at Fratton Park in 26 years, while super-sub Adam Idah snatched a 66th-minute winner with his first touch of the game as Swansea bravely battled back from a goal down to stun Stoke 2-1.

Defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for the Potters, especially after Eric Bocat had fired them into a 10th-minute lead with a deflected left-foot strike, but Nigeria international midfielder Joseph Opoku snatched a 23rd-minute equaliser by powering in a sweet right-foot shot after some poor defending and Idah then won it with a smart close-range finish following more questionable defending.

And Josh Coburn netted a double as Millwall notched a comfortable 2-0 away win over 10-man Bristol City, who saw Adam Randell shown a second yellow card for a foul to prevent a counter-attack in the first half.

Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura has explained what happened during his chaotic third-place match against Alireza Firouzja at the Esports World Cup 2026, after a series of technical problems eventually brought the contest to an unexpected end.Nakamura was competing against his Falcons Esports teammate Firouzja for third place. The match was already close and complicated when multiple players experienced disconnections.Another game was affected by the technical problems, and Firouzja eventually left the match.

Multiple disconnections cause chaos and controversy

Nakamura said he was left waiting for around 20 minutes before officials told him that the match would be recorded as a forfeit in his favour. At the time, however, he did not know what had caused the problem.“Today’s match with Alireza certainly didn’t go well for anyone. It was chaos with multiple disconnections and then Alireza’s untimely departure from the event,” Nakamura explained in an official statement.The American grandmaster said he had no access to his phone or outside information while waiting. Because the first thing he saw on his screen was a disconnection, he assumed the problem was with chess.com.After the forfeit was confirmed, Nakamura was taken to do interviews. Still frustrated and without the full context, he publicly said that he believed chess.com was responsible.

Nakamura retracts his comments

He has since admitted that assumption was incorrect.“I now know I was wrong. It was an EWC issue that took out a few events, not just chess,” Nakamura said. He added that he wished he had been given that information before doing the interviews, saying that he had “jumped to conclusions” and wrongly blamed chess.com.Nakamura apologised to chess.com and asked for his retraction to be shared wherever his original comments had appeared. He also jokingly dismissed suggestions that he had been pressured into changing his story, saying he was “not under duress by the ‘chess mafia’” and that Danny was not “holding my hand on the stove.”Despite the dramatic ending, Nakamura officially finished third at the Esports World Cup, defeating Firouzja after leading 3-1 with two games remaining before the forfeit. The result earned him $145,000 and valuable Club Championship points for Falcons Esports.

The Vikings’ offense doesn’t lack for star power. Truthfully, though, these guys aren’t of huge interest for what’s to come later today.

Indeed, the focus in Minnesota is likely going to be about who plays the best from among the depth guys. Kevin O’Connell needs his side of the ball to bounce back from a very modest effort in 2025. Getting a solid performance out of the Vikings later today in New York will be a small step toward the needed improvement.

3 Players to Watch on The Vikings’ Offense

Player No. 1 — Tai Felton

Kevin O’Connell has been among the lead cheerleaders for Tai Felton. And why not?

Felton boasts great length and offers elite speed, clocking a faster 40 time than both of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Envision a scenario where Felton starts threatening teams deep. Win a few of those reps and the teams will think twice about crashing down too aggressively on those intermediate crossing routes for Jefferson.

The goal is to put the other side in a tricky spot. Failing to keep a free safety over Felton means risking a kill shot for a long score. Failing to bring that free safety crashing down on Jefferson means getting walloped on those crossing routes 20 yards down the field.

Can the 2025 3rd-Round selection become that guy? If so, then the decision to pickup the feisty Maryland player was great work.

Player No. 2 — TE Gavin Bartholomew

Lots of chatter online about the sophomore’s effort.

Gavin Bartholomew missed his entire debut season due to a back injury. The 6th-Round pass catcher should seek to emulate Johnny Mundt, somebody who could get asked to do a bit of everything. Be a menace on specials and block like a maniac on offense. Occasionally, catch the ball.

Mirror Mundt and Bartholomew will end up having a long NFL career.

He’s still just 23 and offers good size at 6’5″ and roughly 250 pounds. Has a slick mullet, too.

Player No. 3 — QB J.J. McCarthy

Hard to exclude the kid.

Mr. McCarthy had a tough week. Kyler Murray has been named the starter, a reality that’s going to be a disappointment to the Michigan man. He can begin chipping away at the deficit — if that’s at all a possibility — by torching preseason opponents.

Look for him to do the little things well. Make good adjustments at the line of scrimmage while getting his guys in and out of the huddle cleanly. Crisp hand offs, good check downs, and know when to run out of bounds. Within all of that work toward making some “wow” plays with aggression when it’s open for the taking.

Even if the Vikings move on soon, the NFL is watching. McCarthy is going to be fine in the end.

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