Ryan Garcia has insisted that he will never rematch Devin Haney, unless his welterweight rival agrees to make an unlikely admission.

The pair squared off in April 2024, back when Garcia weighed 3lbs above the super-lightweight limit and edged a majority decision after scoring three knockdowns.

That result was then ruled a no-contest after it emerged that ‘King Ry’ had tested positive for ostarine, a banned substance, before producing one of his standout performances.

Since then, the 27-year-old has served a year-long ban but maintains his innocence, albeit with wild accusations of an ‘inside job’ orchestrated by Team Haney and the late Victor Conte.

Such baseless allegations were made under the suspicion that Conte, a former doping facilitator, had used his relationship with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association to tamper with Garcia’s samples.

The boxer then attempted to strengthen his claim by highlighting Conte’s partnership with Haney, who continues to work with the doping expert’s SNAC Nutrition.

In response, the former steroid distributor-turned-anti-doping advocate dismissed Garcia’s assessment as nothing more than a conspiracy theory, yet the American continues to suggest that he was sabotaged by Team Haney.

Speaking with Ring Magazine, the WBC welterweight champion said he would not rematch Haney unless he admits to this alleged wrongdoing.

“Until [Haney] admits that they [his team] f**ked with my s**t, or something was going on, I’m never going to fight him.

“His little brother supposedly knew I was going to get caught with steroids. Why would his little brother go on his [social media] story and say ‘Ryan Garcia is going to get caught for steroids’?

“How the f**k did you know? I tested for four months straight [and every result came back] clean.”

While his previous results may have come back negative, the fact of the matter is that Garcia did test positive for a banned substance.

Nigerian forward Flourish Sebastine has completed her move to Portuguese champions Benfica, signing a three-year deal with the club.

The 21-year-old joins Benfica after a successful spell with Turkish side Fenerbahçe, where she helped the club win the Turkish Women’s Super League title last season.

Sebastine started her career with Bayelsa Queens and won three domestic titles before moving to Europe. She later played for Stade de Reims in France, Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe in Turkey.

Her journey with the Nigerian national teams also started at youth level. She represented Nigeria at the 2022 and 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cups.

One of her biggest moments came at the 2022 tournament when she scored the winning goal against France.

Her performances eventually earned her a place in the Super Falcons, and she made her senior debut against Japan in October 2022.

Now, Sebastine begins a new chapter in Portugal after saying goodbye to Fenerbahçe.

Known for her pace, movement and finishing, the forward is expected to add more attacking strength to Benfica as they compete for domestic honours and in European competitions.

Her move also means she will reunite with fellow Nigerian Janet Akekoromowei at Benfica, continuing the club’s growing connection with Nigerian women’s football.

For Sebastine, the move provides another chance to develop her game at one of Europe’s leading women’s clubs.

It also gives the Super Falcons forward an opportunity to gain more experience at the highest level as she continues to establish herself in European football.

India left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh was on Monday named in the North Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy, while Jammu and Kashmir wicketkeeper-batter Kanhaiya Wadhawan was appointed captain of the 15-member team.Arshdeep, who is a regular in India’s white-ball teams, was part of the Test squad during the 2025 tour of England but did not make his Test debut because of injury and team combination issues.Another player who returned to the squad is Haryana pacer Anshul Kamboj, who was also included in the North Zone side for the tournament starting on August 23.Fresh from Jammu and Kashmir’s Ranji Trophy title-winning campaign, six players from the side earned places in the squad. Along with Wadhawan, opener Qamran Iqbal, all-rounder Abdul Samad, left-arm spinner Abid Mushtaq, pacer Sunil Kumar and fast bowler Yudhvir Singh were selected.Delhi batter Ayush Badoni was named vice-captain.Veteran Jammu and Kashmir captain Paras Dogra, 41, was not picked as the Duleep Trophy is seen as a platform for players looking to push for national selection.Pacer Auqib Nabi was unavailable as he is on national duty.Delhi had the second-highest representation after Jammu and Kashmir. Opener Sanat Sangwan, former captain Yash Dhull, middle-order batter Ayush Doseja and Badoni were all included in the squad.India A regular Nishant Sindhu, along with Abid Mushtaq and Arjun Sharma, will provide the spin and all-round options.North Zone squad: Kanhaiya Wadhawan (Captain), Ayush Badoni (Vice-Captain), Sanat Sangwan, Qamran Iqbal, Yash Dhull, Ayush Doseja, Abdul Samad, Nishant Sindhu, Arjun Sharma, Abid Mushtaq, Arshdeep Singh, Sunil Kumar, Anshul Kamboj, Yudhvir Singh, Nikhil Kashyap.

Richard and Will Freedman have launched the 2026/27 Sydney racing season on a high note, with Horizons completing a stable double at Rosehill. This early success places the training partnership at the top of the premiership standings.

After Attractiveness secured victory in the initial race of the program, Horizons delivered another tenacious performance to claim the Congratulations Siena Grima Handicap (2000m).

“I’ve dreamed of this moment,” a jovial Will Freedman stated after the win.

Freedman praised the toughness of Horizons, who had completed a demanding preparation before digging deep when it mattered most.

“Horizons has been game all preparation and she was again today,” Freedman confirmed. “It’s always a query when you have had some tough runs to come and back that up again. But I think the benefit of those tough runs has really hardened her for today’s race.”

Sent out as a $6.50 chance, Horizons fought tenaciously in the straight to defeat Cheval De Bois ($5.50) by three-quarters of a length, with Anythink Goes ($8.50) finishing a close third.

Star jockey Zac Lloyd also achieved a riding double, having earlier triumphed aboard Gatwick, putting him in contention for the Sydney jockeys’ premiership lead.

“It was a nice performance from her today, she was very determined,” Lloyd commented. “To the first turn, we probably did a bit more than I would have liked but then she relaxed well during the run and then found plenty under pressure.”

The five-year-old mare, a daughter of The Autumn Sun, has now amassed four wins from 21 starts, boosting her career earnings to nearly $300,000.

Freedman indicated that Horizons had earned a spell following her latest brave effort.

“We will see how she pulls up but I would think she has done her job for now,” Freedman concluded.

Get the best racing odds for upcoming events.

Gervonta Davis is likely to have no shortage of options if he keeps himself out of trouble and in the gym, ready for a ring return in 2027.

The 31-year-old has not fought since his controversial draw with Lamont Roach, who was wrongfully denied a 10-8 round that would have clinched victory in March 2025.

Davis was then accused of domestic violence later that year, which extended his inactivity following the cancellation of an exhibition match with Jake Paul.

According to long-time advisor Al Haymon, though, the American is now eyeing a return to action in the first half of next year.

Someone who would gladly welcome him back to the sport is Ryan Garcia, who suffered a seventh-round stoppage defeat when they collided in 2023.

Yet that result, he claims, was caused by a rehydration clause in their contact, with Garcia having since moved up to 147lbs and become the WBC world champion.

Speaking with Ring Magazine, ‘King Ry’ insisted that a rematch with Davis is more commercially viable than a second encounter with one of his other former rivals.

“I feel like the Tank rematch is bigger [than a Devin Haney rematch]. He has to come up to 147[lbs].

“If he’s a man, he’d [come up to welterweight]. And then, when I beat him, we can have a trilogy.”

Garcia edged a majority decision against Haney in April 2024, only for the result to be ruled a no-contest on account of him testing positive for ostarine.

Since then, the 27-year-old has lost and won unanimous decisions against Rolando Romero and Mario Barrios, respectively, and will defend his WBC welterweight title against Conor Benn on September 12.

The Cubs have landed reliever-turned-starter Clay Holmes from the Mets and outfielder Tyrone Taylor in a trade deadline deal to fill two major needs, according to the New York Post. Jefferson Rojas, the Cubs’ No. 2 prospect, is headed back to New York.

The 33-year-old Holmes has been sidelined since the middle of May after a comebacker fractured his fibula, but he’s already three starts into his minor-league rehab assignment and will soon be ready for activation from the injured list. 

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This season, Holmes had once again been quite effective prior to suffering the leg injury, and his work in 2026 advanced what’s been a highly successful transition from bullpen work earlier in his career. Holmes made the jump to starter after signing with the Mets as a free agent prior to the 2025 season. Across 40 starts and a pair of relief appearances for the Mets, Holmes has pitched to a 3.26 ERA/127 ERA+ with an FIP of 3.89. In his first season as a starter in 2025, Holmes was able to log a qualifying number of innings. 

Holmes is owed the balance of a $13 million salary for the remainder of the season. His contract includes a $12 million player option for 2027, but he seems highly likely to decline that option and re-enter the free agent market this coming winter. 

The Cubs rotation has been banged up all season, but it’s potentially crowded down the road. Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga are staples. David Peterson has mostly thrown well since the Cubs acquired him from the Mets. Kevin Gausman (acquired Sunday night) and Holmes have now joined the rotation. Colin Rea and Javier Assad are depth pieces who could be used in long relief. Edward Cabrera is expected to return from injury in mid-August. Ben Brown, who was great earlier in the season before his neck injury, has started throwing. Justin Steele is also continuing to rehab from Tommy John surgery. 

The Cubs have been seeking bullpen help, too, and have traded for power arm Ryan Zeferjahn. Further, given their newfound abundance of starting pitchers, it’s reasonable to believe they’ll move some of them to the bullpen. Hunter Harvey and Hoby Milner will likely return soon enough and the Cubs will still hope for a healthy return from closer Daniel Palencia.

With eyes on the playoffs, the Cubs could have a rotation of Gausman, Holmes, Boyd and Imanaga while Cabrera, Rea, Assad and Brown take bullpen roles. There’s always innings for pitchers, especially in the postseason.

Tyrone Taylor, meanwhile, is a rental and a good defender, and has been on a major heater over the last several weeks. The Cubs will hope he can keep that up as a fourth outfielder. And with Ian Happ’s struggles, maybe Taylor gets time in left field as a starter.

For the Mets, the seller’s move by lead executive David Stearns comes amidst a deeply disappointing season that’s seen them tumble from contending status in each of the last two seasons to last place in the National League East. They have already shipped out Luke Weaver, A.J. Minter and Huascar Brazoban over the deadline.

Rojas, a 21-year-old third baseman, is hitting .270/.339/.461 with 19 doubles, 15 home runs, 57 RBI, 58 runs and 17 steals in Double-A this season. MLB Pipeline ranked him No. 2 in the Cubs organization, praising his pitch-recognition and bat-to-ball skills.

Here are our grades for each team. 

Chicago Cubs: A-

The Cubs added a rental starter in Gausman, so they were likely trying to grab a pitcher under team control for another few seasons on Monday. Holmes isn’t that, as there’s a player option for 2027 that he’s unlikely to exercise. That’s the only reason for the minus being tacked on to that A. Holmes was outstanding in his nine starts before injury and could resemble a frontline guy the rest of the season and into the playoffs. That’s a big get for the Cubs. Taylor is helpful as well, especially with Happ’s significant struggles.

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New York Mets: B

Holmes and Taylor were both gone after this season, so there was no reason for the Mets to hold onto them. As such, they were without a ton of leverage and did well to get the Cubs’ No. 2 prospect. That says more about the Cubs’ farm system, though, as Rojas isn’t a top 100 prospect overall. He’s a good get, not a great one. That means we can land on a B here and feel good enough.

Terence Crawford believes there are fighters out there who can test Shakur Stevenson, but does he consider Ryan Garcia one of them?

Stevenson remains undefeated in 25 fights, having captured world titles in four divisions. He currently holds the WBO super lightweight world title having comprehensively beaten Teofimo Lopez earlier this year, and is in search of the biggest fight to kick off his new promotional deal with Zuffa Boxing.

Speaking on The Real Report podcast, Crawford, a friend, mentor and training partner of Stevenson’s, highlighted the best in and around the 140lbs class.

“[Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney] those two fighters are gonna make each other great and it’s gonna be a tough for both of them. Throw Keyshawn [Davis] in there, Tank in there, it’s gonna be hell as well. Those guys right there are holding the keys to 135 and 140.”

Asked if WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia should be in that mix, Crawford said no.

“Ryan Garcia ain’t gonna beat them guys.”

Crawford brushed off Garcia’s victory over Haney, subsequently overturned to a no contest when he failed a doping test, saying Haney ‘wasn’t as focused’ as he could’ve been.

Garcia remains adamant that he wants the Stevenson fight, however, the weight continues to be an issue, with Shakur only willing to go as high as a 144lbs catchweight for now rather than jumping straight up to welterweight. That same demand is preventing a clash with Haney.

In the meantime, Garcia is set to make the first defence of his title against Conor Benn on September 12 in Las Vegas.

Ankur Bhattacharjee and Yashaswini Ghorpade clinched the men’s and women’s singles title with contrasting wins at the 22nd Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships here on Sunday.

Bhattacharjee emerged a deserving 4-3 winner over Payas Jain after a hard-fought match.

Payas looked set for victory after opening a 7-4 lead in the deciding game.

However, Ankur called a timeout that disrupted his opponent’s rhythm, and fought back to level at 8-8.

He then edged ahead 10-9, and eventually sealed the title 11-9 when Payas’ return drifted long.

In the women’s final, Ghorpade delivered a commanding performance to defeat Sreeja Akula 4-1.

India dominated the championships, winning all but one of the gold medals on offer.

The lone title eluded the hosts was the men’s doubles, where Malaysia’s pair defeated Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah in the final.

Ghorpade dominated the opening two games, racing to an 11-6, 11-1 lead and putting Sreeja under immense pressure.

Sreeja responded admirably, taking the third game 11-8 to keep her hopes alive, but Ghorpade quickly regained control, claiming the fourth game 11-7 and moving within touching distance of the title.

The fifth game produced the most entertaining contest of the match, with both players matching each other point-for-point in a tense finish.

Although Sreeja fought hard and saved two championship points, she failed to benefit from crucial opportunities at the business end.

Yashaswini held her nerve to convert her third match point, sealing a 13-11 victory and the championship in style.

In the men’s doubles final, contrary to expectations, Malaysia’s Shen Qi Wong and Javen Choong delivered a clinical display, defeating India’s Manav Thakkar and Manush Shah, the world No. 2 pair, in straight games.

In the all-Indian women’s doubles final, Sreeja Akula and Syndrela Das delivered a commanding performance, defeating Yashaswini Ghorpade and Divyanshi Bhowmick 3-1.

The mixed doubles final featured a spirited comeback by India’s Manav Thakkar and Taneesha Kotecha, who defeated Malaysia’s Ai Xin and Richard Rui 3-2.

Results: Men’s Singles: Final: Ankur Bhattacharjee (Ind) bt Payas Jain (Ind) 11-8, 9-11, 7-11, 11-8, 4-11, 11-4, 11-9.

Men’s Doubles: Final: Shen Qi Wong/Javen Choong (Mas) bt Manav Thakkar/Manush Shah (Ind) 11-9, 12-10, 11-7.

Women’s Singles: Final: Yashaswini Ghorpade (Ind) bt Sreeja Akula (Ind) 11-6, 11-1, 8-11, 11-7, 13-11.

Women’s Doubles: Final: Sreeja Akula/Syndrela Das (Ind) bt Yashaswini Ghorpade/Divyanshi Bhowmick (Ind) 11-8, 11-13, 11-8, 11-6.

Mixed Doubles: Final: Taneesha Kotecha/Manav Thakkar (Ind) bt Ai Xin Tee/Richard Rui Zhe Yap (Mas) 11-8, 10-12, 10-12, 11-9, 11-5.

Nigeria’s final Group C match against Egypt could play a major role in deciding which teams reach the knockout stage of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

If Nigeria beat Egypt 1-0 and Zambia also defeat Malawi, the final positions will depend on the score in the Zambia-Malawi game.

A 1-0 win for Zambia would leave Malawi, Nigeria and Zambia level on goal difference. Malawi would then top the group on goals scored, with Nigeria finishing second, while Zambia would be eliminated.

If Zambia win by two or three clear goals, Malawi would be eliminated, with Zambia topping the group and Nigeria finishing second.

However, a 3-2 victory for Zambia would again leave the three teams level on goal difference. Malawi would top the group based on goals scored, while Nigeria would finish second and Zambia would be eliminated.

The biggest twist could come if Zambia beat Malawi 4-3. In that case, Nigeria would be eliminated, while Malawi would top the group and Zambia would finish second.

The permutations are based on the competition’s head-to-head rules. If three teams finish level on points, results against the fourth-placed team, Egypt in this case, are not considered when deciding the positions among the three tied teams.

This means Nigeria’s victory over Egypt would be important for qualification, but the final score between Zambia and Malawi could ultimately determine whether the Super Falcons top the group, finish second or face elimination.