While determined to craft an illustrious legacy at 200lbs, David Benavidez has now reconsidered a possible heavyweight clash with Oleksandr Usyk.

Their potential encounter was mooted following Benavidez’s sixth-round stoppage of Gilberto Ramirez, who he dethroned for the WBO and WBA cruiserweight titles in May.

In doing so, ‘The Mexican Monster’ became a three-division world champion while still holding his WBC light-heavyweight strap, though it now seems that he is ruling out a move back down to 175lbs.

Instead, Benavidez is set to face Michal Cieslak for the WBC cruiserweight title on December 12, with Noel Mikaelian likely to be stripped of the belt following his ninth-round stoppage defeat to Jai Opetaia over the weekend.

The 29-year-old could therefore end up with three major belts at 200lbs by the end of this year, before pursuing a mouthwatering showdown with Opetaia in 2027.

Equally, though, Benavidez has expressed his interest in facing Usyk after admitting in June that he was not ready for a move up to heavyweight.

Speaking to The Ring’s Mike Coppinger while in attendance for Ryan Garcia’s second-round stoppage of Conor Benn, the unbeaten Mexican-American outlined his future as being at 200lbs but also named Usyk as a potential next opponent.

“I feel great at this weight class. I don’t have to lose weight; I’ve never felt as good as I did in my last fight.

“So I wanna be the reigning [cruiserweight] champion for a long time. But if we get a fight with Usyk, I’m not going to turn it down.”

Quick ringside interview with David Benavidez after Jai Opetaia’s emphatic TKO win over Noel Mikaelian. Benavidez says Opetaia looked slow and easy to hit, easy to hurt. Who are you picking in this one? One of the best fights you can make in boxing 🧨 pic.twitter.com/toW5862icQ

— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) September 13, 2026

Usyk comes off an 11th-round stoppage of Rico Verhoeven and, despite vacating his three belts in June, the Ukrainian remains the lineal heavyweight champion.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 final T20 cricket match against Delhi Capitals, at Baroda Cricket Association Stadium, Kotambi in Vadodara, Gujarat. (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil)

MUMBAI: The Women’s Premier League-2027 auction is likely to be conducted on October 29 in Kochi, TOI has learnt.The option of staging WPL 2027 matches in Varanasi, provided the stadium is ready by January next year, was discussed at Tuesday’s WPL Governing Council meeting, which was held virtually.“It has been decided that Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium will stage WPL-2027 matches. The second city for staging the WPL will be either Vadodara (Kotambi Stadium) or the new stadium in Varanasi. The BCCI is exploring the possibility of staging matches at Varanasi right now. A BCCI cricket operations team will conduct a recce of the Varanasi stadium, and assess whether it is ready or not to stage the tournament. Since it’s a new venue, we also need to conduct a few domestic/practice matches as well there,” a source tracking developments told TOI on Wednesday.“The possibility of hosting WPL matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru was also discussed, but then it requires quite a few permissions from the local authorities,” the source informed.The historic Brabourne Stadium at the Cricket Club of India and the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara will also stage the inaugural edition of the six-team ICC Women’s Champions Trophy 2027, with matches scheduled between Feb 14 and 28, 2027.In the past, the Brabourne Stadium has staged two WPL finals, in 2023 (inaugural season) and 2025, and missed out last year because new floodlights are being installed at the venue.The Brabourne Stadium is also the home venue of the Railways in the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy, and will stage three of their ties in the upcoming season.Vadodara staged the 2026 WPL final, in which the Smriti Mandhana-captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Delhi Capitals by six wickets to lift the trophy.

Decision on Impact Player rule deferred to next month

Meanwhile, at a meeting of the BCCI’s IPL Governing Council on Tuesday, a decision on the controversial Impact Player rule in the IPL has been deferred to a meeting of the IPL GC next month.“All the franchisees have submitted their feedback on the rule. That feedback will be assessed, and a final decision taken next month,” a source added.It’s learnt that a majority of the IPL franchises have voiced their reservations against the rule after the BCCI asked them to give their feedback about it.The debatable rule allows for an extra batter or bowler at any stage of the match, and has resulted in tall scores during the tournament, with batting line-ups becoming deeper.It has been argued that the rule is hurting the cause of the development of allrounders in Indian cricket.

While Deakin’s first-up placing at Caulfield might have raised a few eyebrows, it was not a surprise for trainers Phillip and Tommy Stokes.

The imported gelding finished third in the Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) on August 29 at $51 and is set to return to the track this Saturday for the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m).

A victory in the Naturalism Stakes grants a ballot exemption into the Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 17, a race Deakin contested last year, finishing eighth.

“We thought he would run as well as what he did first-up,” Phillip Stokes stated.

“His trials were very good, but when we looked at the market, we were trying to work out what we missed, but he was massive first-up.

“We thought he came back in good order, and he didn’t let us down.”

Stokes revealed that since his initial run, Deakin has completed a jump-out on the synthetic track at Pakenham, finishing third behind stablemates Regal Award and Ferivia.

“He had a tick over jump-out last week under a good hold.

“We could not be happier with how he’s progressing towards the Caulfield Cup and we’ll have him there fourth-up.

“The way he’s going, we feel he’ll run a bold race on Saturday.”

Now a seven-year-old, Stokes highlighted that Deakin is a mature stayer and has benefited from a solid break following last year’s Caulfield Cup, with only one start earlier this year.

“Last year when he ran in the Caulfield Cup, he got buffeted a lot and it didn’t work out,” Stokes recalled.

“He wasn’t beaten all that far and we feel he’s come back a more mature horse.

“We’ve made a few changes, he’s relaxing better and I’m sure he’ll run well.”

Stokes mentioned that despite their best efforts, Deakin continues to race with his head on the side.

“That’s just him. He’s better when he gets outside horse,” Stokes said.

“That’s the European in him. He likes a bit of room.”

With Deakin showing good form, explore the racing betting markets for the Naturalism Stakes.

Tiger Woods has shared footage of him hitting balls for the first time since his car accident in March.

The former world number one was seen practising on the range at Liberty National in New Jersey ahead of this week’s Nexus Cup, an amateur event Woods is hosting to raise funds for his TGR Foundation.

The 15-time major champion also held a clinic where he was asked by the master of ceremonies about his game.

“I can hit pretty much anything,” he said.

The PGA Tour also released a video of the 50-year-old with the caption, “Tiger Woods is back on the range!” but it remained unclear whether he was preparing for a comeback.

Woods has not played competitive golf since 2024 after a series of fitness problems.

He escaped unhurt after rolling his Land Rover in March but subsequently took time out of the public eye to seek treatment for other issues.

Earlier this month he pleaded no contest to a charge of reckless driving and accepted a five-year suspension of his driving licence.

Jockeys rarely express satisfaction after a horse they ride is beaten, but Chad Schofield was an exception after Ceolwulf secured the runner-up position behind Lindermann in the Chelmsford Stakes.

After a disappointing autumn campaign where the gelding’s season was halted by foot issues and a minor bleed, Schofield was delighted with Ceolwulf’s charge from the rear on the home turn to finish second in a race controlled by the leader.

This performance followed a fifth-place debut behind Autumn Glow in the Winx Stakes (1400m), but it was Ceolwulf’s Chelmsford run that convinced Schofield the horse had returned to his peak.

“He got beaten, but I left the races very happy because I feel like Joe (Pride) has got him right where he wants him and he’s tracking very well for the races later on,” Schofield stated.

“He didn’t come up last ‘prep’, but that’s probably why I left the races so happy. He felt as good as he has ever felt. For me, that was the main thing.

“We know he’s a horse that comes good for his grand finals and at the end of his prep and that seems to be the case again.”

Ceolwulf is set to have his third start this preparation in Saturday’s 7 Stakes (1600m) at Randwick, where he will again face Autumn Glow.

From the trainer’s perspective, Pride is uncertain if the race will offer the backmarker an ideal scenario, particularly from the outside draw of seven, but he anticipates another strong showing.

“I don’t know if we’re guaranteed any more tempo here again, but it would be nice,” Pride commented.

“The horse is ready though. He’s had his two runs back now, so he’s getting into that zone where he starts to do his best.”

Having won the King Charles III Stakes (1600m) for the last two years, Pride has not yet finalised Ceolwulf’s attempt at a third consecutive victory.

While he is confident the race conditions suit his charge, he is aware that it is a carnival target for Autumn Glow, and if she maintains that focus, it may lead Pride to consider other options.

“I haven’t one hundred per cent decided whether we’re going King Charles or Cox Plate. Saturday will probably help mould that decision and send us the right way,” Pride said.

“He’s got four group ones at 1600 metres, so I’d be pretty brave saying he’s better at 2000 metres, but that doesn’t mean he can’t win a good Group One over 2000.

“I’m thinking about his opposition more than about him in that regard.”

Stablemates Headley Grange and Private Eye have both been entered for the Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m), a race intended as a stepping stone towards more significant targets later in their campaigns.

“It’s really just a pathway race for them,” Pride explained.

“Private Eye needs to get his confidence back. Headley Grange, he doesn’t lack confidence, but he might run there because we’re going to eventually go to the Alan Brown (Stakes).”

Both will be ridden by their regular jockeys, Adam Hyeronimus on Headley Grange and Nash Rawiller aboard Private Eye. The 7 Stakes is shaping up to be a key race to watch with online bookmakers.

The previous outing for Sepals and Von Hauke saw them finish second and third respectively in a Group 1 race in Brisbane.

The duo is now gearing up for another attempt at Group 1 level, this time competing in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield this Saturday.

In June, Sepals and Von Hauke secured second and third place behind Spicy Martini on a rain-affected track in the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm, before enjoying a break in Queensland.

During the Stradbroke Handicap, they occupied adjacent stalls, 16 and 17. On Saturday, they will again start from neighbouring barriers, with Sepals in stall five and Von Hauke in stall six.

Trainer Cliff Brown has often faced challenges with poor barrier draws for this pair, especially in Group races, necessitating a conservative racing style. However, this Saturday could offer a different scenario, particularly for Von Hauke.

“He’s more tractable now Von Hauke,” Brown commented. “He can be handy, but he hasn’t drawn well in the past which has cost him. Sepals can go forward, go back, it depends on how he jumps. They will both come on for the run, which is normal for my horses.”

Sepals has the chance to become the first horse since Testa Rossa in 1999-2000 to achieve consecutive wins in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

Under Craig Williams’ direction, Sepals overcame a slow start and barrier 14 to win the Group 1 prize last year carrying 52kg.

Sepals will carry 56.5kg this year and will be ridden by Ethan Brown, while Harry Coffey, who guided Von Hauke in Brisbane, will again partner the horse on Saturday.

Brown has adopted a similar preparation strategy for both horses, involving two jump-outs for each.

Von Hauke’s most recent jump-out occurred at Caulfield Heath in early September, while Sepals completed a jump-out at Sandown last week.

“They’ll both be fit enough for 1400 metres, but with improvement to come,” Brown stated. “Vonnie is very good. He’s interesting. He’s quite a gross horse but comes on quite quick. He’s had a couple of gallops since his last jump-out while I trialled Sepals last week, a bit closer to the race. He won first-up last year, but he was scratched two weeks earlier because he went off in the gates and hit his head. That’s why he had that extra trial last year and that’s why I’ve trialled him a bit closer to Saturday because he can get that bit fresh.”

The 2026 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes is set to be a competitive race; consider checking out the latest online bookmakers for your wagers.