In four weeks’ time, Tokyo will host the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history, as Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani collide for the undisputed super-bantamweight title. Now, Inoue’s former pound-for-pound rival Terence Crawford has offered his thoughts on the fight.

After becoming the undisputed bantamweight ruler, Inoue conquered the super-bantamweight scene in just two fights, halting both Stephen Fulton and Marlon Tapales to claim all four belts in the 122lb division.

‘The Monster’ has since defended those belts on six occasions and will soon put them, and his undefeated record, on the line against fellow unbeaten Japanese star Nakatani in an enthralling battle at the 55,000-capacity Tokyo Dome.

Should Inoue come out on top, there is every chance that could become recognised globally as the pound-for-pound number one, due to Crawford’s retirement and Usyk’s underwhelming upcoming showdown with Rico Verhoeven.

On X, Crawford revealed that he believes Inoue-Nakatani is a ’50/50’ affair, simultaneously confirming that he plans to be in attendance for the event, where someone’s ‘0’ has to go.

“That’s 50/50 to me. I wanna go to see tho.”

The fight takes place on Saturday, May 2, and will be broadcasted on Lemino in Japan and on DAZN around the rest of the world.

On the undercard, Inoue’s brother and reigning WBC bantamweight champion Takuma will face four-division world champion Kazuto Ioka in the co-main event of the blockbuster bill.

Additionally, 5-0 Sora Tanaka squares off with Jin Sasaki in an intriguing welterweight scrap for the OPBF title.

Tiger Woods said he is stepping away to seek treatment, four days after his vehicle crashed in Florida and he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. He will miss the Masters for the second straight year.

“This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery,” Woods said in social media posts.

Woods pleaded not guilty in his driving under the influence case in Florida on Tuesday, hours after a sheriff’s report said deputies found two pain pills in his pocket and he showed signs of impairment after his SUV clipped a trailer and rolled over on its side.

The online court docket for Martin County showed Woods entered a written plea of not guilty and planned to waive his April 23 arraignment hearing.

It’s the second time Woods has taken a leave following a car crash. In 2009, after his SUV plowed into a fire hydrant and tree outside his home near Orlando, he took a leave of absence to work on being a better person. That lasted four months and he returned at the Masters.

Woods showed signs of impairmentWoods’ eyes were bloodshot and glassy, his pupils dilated and he had opioid pills – identified as hydrocodone – on him when interviewed at the scene of the crash, according to the arrest report released by the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.

Woods’ movements were slow and lethargic, he was sweating as he talked to deputies in the back seat of an air-conditioned car and he told them he had taken prescription medication earlier in the morning, according to the report.

Woods told deputies he had been looking at his phone and fiddling with the radio moments before he hit the trailer, the report said.

Woods has not played an official event since the 2024 British Open. He was recovering from a seventh back surgery in October and was trying to return at the Masters, where he is a five-time champion.

“I’m committed to take the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger and more focused place, both personally and professionally,” Woods said in his statement.

He is taking a break from the PGA Tour boardThat means a break from more than just golf. He serves a key role on the PGA Tour board by leading its Future Competition Committee reshaping the schedule. A tour spokesman said Woods did not take part in Tuesday’s meeting, and the work would continue in his absence.

“Over the last year, I have come to deeply appreciate Tiger not only for his impact on the game, but for his friendship and the perspective he has shared with me as I joined the golf industry,” said PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp, who started last summer. “My thoughts are with him and his family as he takes this step, for which he has my full respect and support.” 
Woods’ defense attorney, Douglas Duncan, didn’t respond to an email and phone call after the plea was entered Tuesday.

Woods was traveling at high speeds on a beachside, residential road on Jupiter Island with a 30 mph (nearly 50 kph) when the accident occurred. The truck had $5,000 in damage, according to the report.

The truck driver and another person helped Woods out of his vehicle through the passenger window. Neither Woods nor the truck driver were injured.

The failed sobriety test 
During a field sobriety test, deputies noticed Woods limping and that he had a compression sock over his right knee. Woods explained he had undergone seven back surgeries and over 20 surgeries on his right leg, and that his ankle seizes up while walking.

Woods, who was hiccupping during questioning, continuously moved his head during one of the sobriety tests and deputies had to tell him several times to keep his head straight, the report said.

“Based on my observations of Woods, how he performed the exercises and based on my training, knowledge, and experience, I believed that Woods normal faculties were impaired, and he was unable to safely operate the motor vehicle,” the deputy wrote after the tests.

Woods, 50, is the most influential figure in golf and has become as recognizable as any athlete in the world. The first person of Black heritage to win the Masters in 1997, he has captivated golf fans with records likely never to be broken.

But his injuries have kept him from accomplishing more, including those suffered in the 2021 car crash in Los Angeles that damaged his right leg so badly he said doctors considered amputation.

At this latest crash, Woods agreed to a Breathalyzer test that showed no signs of alcohol, but he refused a urine test, authorities said. He was arrested and released on bail eight hours later.

Woods, who has been involved in four crashes over the years, is charged with driving under the influence with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.

Under a change to Florida law last year, refusing a law enforcement officer’s request to take a breath, blood or urine test became a misdemeanor, even for a first offense. 

Check IPL 2026 latest news and statistical video highlights of the day here Check IPL 2026 full schedule here Check IPL 2026 points table here 

Anthony Joshua has made his first public appearance since the death of close friends Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele as he arrived at O2 Arena to support Derek Chisora.

Two-time world heavyweight champion Joshua was involved in a fatal car crash in Nigeria on December 29, which killed Ghami and Ayodele.

Joshua has kept a low profile in recent months after he attended the funeral of his close friends and Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has reiterated ‘AJ’ needs time to heal, but the duo were together on Saturday for Chisora’s 50th and final fight of his career as he took on Deontay Wilder in London.

Dressed in a white tracksuit, Joshua emerged with Hearn from a black people carrier and cut a calm figure as he walked into the arena past a number of camera crews.

There was no friendly welcome from old rival Wilder, who was repeatedly linked with a world title bout with Joshua during the peak of their powers, but the American went straight past the London heavyweight without any acknowledgement in a tight corridor inside O2.

Joshua last fought before Christmas when he stopped YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami, but speculation continues over a potential bout with Tyson Fury.

Welcome to our 2027 SuperWest Football Commitment Tracker, where you can search or sort by player, program, position, and 247Sports composite stars and ratings.

The table is updated regularly as new commitments are reported.

You’ll also find a breakdown of each category in the table below the trackers.

Breakdown by Program, Player, Stars, and Average Rating

On Friday night, Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg, 19, did something no teenager had ever done. The No. 1 pick in the 2025 Draft dropped 51 points, becoming the youngest player — and only teenager — in NBA history to drop a 50-piece.

Flagg did it while shooting 19 of 30 (63.3%) from the field. The Mavericks also needed every single one of those points, too, as they lost to the Orlando Magic, 138-127. Flagg poured in 24 fourth-quarter points to try to pull the Mavericks back from the dead and a 30-point deficit. Mavericks assistant Frank Vogel (filling in after Jason Kidd was ejected) initially removed Flagg from the game with under four minutes to play and his team trailing by 17. Flagg had 45 at that point, and a chorus of boos from the home crowd followed. 

Soon after, however, Flagg was back in the game and pushed his point total to 51. In doing so, Flagg became the youngest player to score 50 points in an NBA game, passing Brandon Jennings, who scored 55 in 2009 at age 20. Flagg also became just the third rookie since the ABA/NBA merger in 1976 to score 50, joining Jennings and Allen Iverson (1997). 

“It’s always fun getting into that type of mode,” Flagg said after the game. “The basket feels big. Your teammates are looking out for you, helping you out. But I love to win, so that was my main focus. It’s hard for me to fully enjoy myself out there when we’re down 20, down 10, down 15 for the majority of the game.”

The most impressive aspect of Flagg’s performance wasn’t the highlight reel dunks or the countless times he made a mockery of Orlando’s defense by taking several defenders off the dribble to score with ease at the rim or from mid-range. It was, surprisingly, Flagg’s 3-point shooting that stuck out the most. 

The rookie went 6 of 9 from long range, the most 3s he’s made in a single game this season. It’s also the most 3s he’s taken in a game this season, too. If you’ve watched Flagg at all, you know his 3-point shooting is by far his weakest offensive skill. He’s only had six games this season in which he’s made more than two 3-pointers in a game. He has more games where he’s connected on zero 3-pointers (26) than he’s had games where he’s made two 3-pointers (11).

His 3-point shooting, now up to 29.3% for the season, is a work in progress. Friday night’s performance showed there’s hope that he can become a more consistent threat from there with time. He was drilling catch-and-shoot 3s, but even more impressively, Flagg had several pull-up 3s that provided flashes of what his future could hold.

It was a statement performance for the rookie, and it put him in good company with some all-time greats. Flagg has topped 40 points three times this season. Only Michael Jordan (7) and Iverson (5) have more 40-point games as a rookie since the merger. 

After the game, his teammates and coaches were singing his praises.

“He should be Rookie of the Year. It’s unbelievable,” Kidd said. “The country is not watching the same thing that we get to watch on a daily basis. The things that he’s done, he’s in rare air. He’s with the GOAT when you talk about MJ and what he did in his rookie year — and as a teenager.”

It’s no surprise to see Kidd endorse his star for Rookie of the Year, and it’s pretty hard to argue with him after Friday night. But where exactly does Flagg stack up against Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets, the frontrunner for the award?

Tale of the tape: Flagg vs. Knueppel

Knueppel, Flagg’s former teammate at Duke, is currently the favorite for Rookie of the Year (-350 at FanDuel). But after Friday’s performance, Flagg certainly made this race interesting and isn’t too far behind in the odds at +250. 

Despite what passionate fans might say on both sides of this race, this is a lot closer than anyone is willing to admit, and performances like Flagg’s on Friday could significantly sway the conversation.

Head-to-head stats

Flagg’s on pace to become the first rookie since Jordan to lead his team in points, rebounds, assists and steals. He owns the top three highest scoring totals by a rookie this season. In a typical year, Flagg would be far ahead in the Rookie of the Year conversation, no question. Historically, the award has always gone to a rookie on a rebuilding team. If Flagg won the award right now, he’d certainly be deserving of it. He’s been the most important player on a roster that has been in flux all season. 

He’s not just the offensive engine for the Mavericks; he’s also defending at a level above what rookies are expected to do. He’s efficient from mid-range, can get to the rim at will and finishes at a rate (68%) higher than the likes of Devin Booker and Donovan Mitchell, per Cleaning the Glass.

That’s not to say Knueppel shouldn’t win the award. He’s averaging 18.8 points on near 50/40/90 splits. He shattered the rookie 3-point record and has been a catalyst for Charlotte transforming from a lottery mainstay to an actually competitive team. 

But Knueppel is also benefiting from playing alongside LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. He’s become one of the best off-ball threats in the league in part because of the attention those two attract, but also because of the high IQ Knueppel has with his off-ball movement. It’s not outrageous to say Knueppel is the best 3-point shooter in the league not named Stephen Curry, and the numbers back that up. Knueppel is second in the league in 3-point percentage (minimum five 3PA/G), proving he’s not just good by rookie standards. He’s lighting the league on fire.

When it comes down to it, there’s a case for both players, or a co-winner situation like Grant Hill and Jason Kidd in 1995. But because no one likes ties, Knueppel might have the edge because the Hornets are in position to earn a playoff spot if they can get through the play-in round first. They’ve almost doubled the number of wins the Mavericks have (42 to 24). In a Rookie of the Year race this close, the team results might actually be the deciding factor. Even a historic 51-point outing from Flagg might not be enough to significantly pull voters back on his side to overtake Knueppel in this race.

PurplePTSD works in partnership with Vikings Territory, similarly doing their utmost to offer top-notch coverage of the Minnesota Vikings. As a result, we’re promoting five of their top articles of the past month in “The P/PTSD Perspective.” Take a peek at some of their best stuff.

The P/PTSD Perspective: April 4th, 2026

1) Kevin O’Connell Confirms Player’s Position Switch: Blake Brandel can do it all. Quite possibly, Brandel could be the solution at center. He’s a veteran who works hard and who likes to compete. The issue is twofold: he’s likely not the world’s best option and elevating him means losing the valued depth.

2) Cowboys Prevent a Possible Vikings Reunion: Dallas made the move to enhance its d-line depth. Jonathan Bullard is a rugged veteran who is akin to a fourth-line forward in hockey, someone who specializes in killing penalties. Nobody thinks that 50 goals are going to get scored; rather, the new add does the dirty work that allows a team to win.

3) There’s Early Momentum in Vikings’ GM Search: Rob Brzezinski has had a nice offseason in charge. Like a quarterback starting for a few games before struggling over the long haul, Brzezinski will need to answer questions about his capacity to shine over years and not months.

4) Former Vikings Defender Calls it a Career: He’ll very reasonably get consideration for the Hall of Fame. The corner did excellently for a long time. Eventually, time comes for even the best players, so it’s time to hang up the cleats.

5) Bane 1.0: Vikings 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Going a full seven rounds is bold. Minnesota can’t simply crush the opening selection, as vital as that is. Rather, there needs to be value found from the 2nd onward. Check out how Mr. Bane sees things unfolding.

Enjoy the extra reading, Vikings fans.

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

Tyler Schiller’s premier Group One engagement on the opening leg of The Championships at Randwick is Briasa, protector of the T J Smith Stakes crown, but he sees greater potential in his two lesser-noticed alternatives.

Besides that, the expert hoop connects with Paul Preusker’s Steparty ($19) in the Doncaster Mile (1600m) and Dezignation ($151) from Matt Smith’s stable for the ATC Australian Derby (2400m), both of whom he deems capable of major impacts.

Positioned as the extreme roughie in the Derby contest, Dezignation nevertheless surged to claim fifth from this weekend’s adversary Storm Leopard ($5) in the Tulloch Stakes (2000m), distinguishing himself through confirmed suitability for the full distance over many foes.

Having taken the mount on the gelding for the debut time in that prep run, Schiller departed favorably inclined.

“He sneaks in off a really good run in the Tulloch,” Schiller said.

“He got back and was taken off the bridle a long way from home, and he stayed on super strong. He just needed a bit further, which he is going to get this weekend.

“As long as he backs up, he’s going to have a really good chance, and he’s got a lovely barrier compared to his outside barrier the other day.

“If it’s a good staying test, he is going to be in the finish.”

Steparty similarly escapes the limelight in the Doncaster Mile, where talk dominates around impressive filly Sheza Alibi.

A repeated Group 1 podium finisher, the five-year-old has sampled Sydney runs earlier, including second in the 2024 The Ingham (1600m) via the Doncaster path.

Following successive victories in Tasmania this February, he enters Saturday’s showcase after a near-miss fifth to Tom Kitten during the All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington, aided by a favorable gate six for a conservative ride.

“He’s a really nice horse. He’s got a great attitude and he’s another one flying under the radar,” Schiller said.

“He got beaten a length and a bit in the All-Star Mile off a tough, wide run, and he’s going as good as ever.

“Fingers crossed, barrier six is a lovely barrier in the Doncaster. Hopefully he can bounce and get a bit of cover somewhere and save himself for late. He drops a lot in weight, so I think he might surprise a few people.”

Across recent three weight-for-age efforts, Steparty managed 59kg, dropping to 51.5kg for Randwick.

Schiller pursues an initial Derby conquest alongside a follow-up Doncaster Mile after Celestial Legend’s success under him two years ago.

Discover betting sites offering strong racing odds for the ATC Australian Derby.

Believe it or not, although the Minnesota Vikings’ offseason has not been stuffed to the gills with constant action, the last few months have brought quite a few surprises. So, we ranked them.

Minnesota’s offseason has featured more curveballs than expected, with surprises on the roster, staff, and front office.

The draft is less than three weeks away, and it’s time to recap the offseason to date.

Several Unforeseen Moves Have Reshaped Minnesota’s 2026 Outlook

Ranking the Vikings’ offseason surprises from bottom to top (No. 1 = top offseason surprise).

5. No Head Coach Love for Brian Flores

In 2025, the Vikings’ defense ranked third in the NFL per EPA/Play and DVOA. In 2024, the same unit checked in at No. 2. Overall, Flores has fostered the league’s second-best defense overall since arriving in the Twin Cities three years ago. The guy deserves another head coach opportunity.

In January and February, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens came knocking for Flores, interviewing him for the vacant head coaching job.

Flores did not land either position. For a week or so, it felt like Flores would take the bait and depart from an esteemed franchise like PIT or BAL. Instead, those organizations picked other candidates, and Flores is back in Minnesota for Year No. 4.

4. No Starting Center Signed

Ryan Kelly, a four-time Pro Bowler, retired from the NFL after one year with the Vikings. Minnesota would need a replacement starting center, right? Nope.

These men were available, and the Vikings signed none:

• Tyler Linderbaum (LV)
• Elgton Jenkins (CLE)
• Tyler Biadasz (LAC)
• Cade Mays (DET)
• Luke Fortner (CAR)
• Lloyd Cushenberry III (BUF)

Instead, it sounds like Minnesota will promote jack-of-all-trades offensive lineman Blake Brandel to the starting center spot, and draft a center somewhere in the draft’s middle rounds.

3. Letting Jonathan Greenard Trade Smoke Become a Thing

In early March, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted that Greenard was available for trade, wanting a contract extension and hoping to earn more than his current $19 million per year salary. After all, Micah Parsons and Aidan Hutchinson earn over $45 million per season, and they play Greenard’s position.

Since the Schefter tweet, the Greenard trade smoke has cooled, but that doesn’t mean he’s off the trade block.

The Vikings will claim to be playoff hopefuls in 2026, and trading top-tier EDGE rushers is usually the last thing a serious team does; in fact, the NFL’s best teams go out of their way to add pass rushers.

ESPN’s Kevin Seifert on the latest Greenard trade fodder: “The Vikings made other moves to trim nearly $50 million from their 2026 cap total, but Greenard’s $19 million salary for this season sits in a tier below the league’s top pass rushers.”

“Until an adjustment occurs, a trade is possible if the Vikings are intrigued enough by an offer. Otherwise, the Vikings want Greenard to be part of a dynamic group of outside linebackers that includes veteran Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner, a 2024 first-round draft pick.”

2. The Kyler Murray Dream Came True

Back in December, websites like this one published articles outlining how much Murray might cost in a trade — because surely the Arizona Cardinals wouldn’t let Murray leave for nothing and pay for him to play elsewhere.

What happened? The Cardinals let Murray leave for nothing and are paying for him to play elsewhere — for the Minnesota Vikings.

From the moment Arizona “softly benched” Murray in November, it felt like the Vikings could have a shot at landing him in the 2026 offseason. Arizona later released him, and it just became a foregone conclusion that Murray would sign with the Vikings. He didn’t really entertain any alternatives.

In Minnesota, Murray has a chance to forge a Drew Brees-like path in 2026 — become the long-term starter after his previous team didn’t want him.

1. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Fired

The Seattle Seahawks won the NFC Championship on January 25th, a club led by Sam Darnold. The Vikings let Darnold leave in free agency seven months prior. Seattle won the Super Bowl with the Vikings’ quarterback while the Vikings missed the playoffs altogether.

Someone had to pay, evidently.

Meanwhile, Adofo-Mensah hit on about 15%-25% of his draft selections from 2022 to 2025, a mark that was as embarrassing as it was shocking. It would be hard for you to pick worse players while drafting from your living room couch.

So, on January 30th, five days after Darnold and Co. won the NFC title game, the Vikings’ ownership put its foot down and canned Adofo-Mensah. The move was only stunning because of the timing; most teams make front office changes in early- or mid-January, not in the final days of the month.

Adofo-Mensah lasted four offseasons, and the timing of his removal shocked Vikings fans.

Here’s to hoping the draft classes can now fetch decent players.