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Making first WCC start, Gonzaga’s Mario Saint-Supery thrives with extended minutes against USF: ‘It was time to reward him’ | Rewind

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Feb. 19—SAN FRANCISCO — Gonzaga’s surprising setback at Portland two weeks ago will follow Mark Few’s team into Selection Sunday, but if you looked at an updated version of the NCAA NET rankings on Thursday morning — one of the evaluation tools committee members will use to seed and sort NCAA Tournament teams — it may have been easy to forget an 87-80 loss to the Pilots even happened in the first place.

Gonzaga was ranked No. 6 in the NET rankings prior to its gloomy night at the Chiles Center. The Zags slid to No. 9 with a Quad 3 loss, but have steadily worked their way up the totem pole with four comfortable wins in West Coast Conference play, including three road victories.

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If you refreshed the NET rankings on Thursday, you probably noticed Gonzaga bumped up to No. 5. That’s two positions higher than where the Zags were before Wednesday’s 80-59 victory over San Francisco at the Chase Center and one spot higher than where they sat prior to the Portland loss.

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The Zags still have a few more weeks to build their NCAA Tournament resume and three more games to secure an outright WCC regular-season title.

For now, we’ll take a minute to review how Gonzaga picked up its 26th win, thanks in large part to contributions from a young point guard and veteran forward.

Super(y) night

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Few has insisted this season — and on multiple occasions — that fans, reporters and followers of his program shouldn’t read into the different starting lineup combinations Gonzaga’s used this season.

It may not be wise to make any sweeping conclusions about Mario Saint-Supery’s first start since late December, but the point guard’s minutes total against San Francisco and seemed noteworthy and potentially a sign of things to come as the Zags enter the final week of the regular season.

Saint-Supery started for the first time since Dec. 21 against Oregon and played 33 minutes for the second time in as many games. Junior point guard Braeden Smith got his 14th straight start on Saturday at Santa Clara, but was replaced early in the first half by Saint-Supery, who was also part of Gonzaga’s five-man unit to open the second half at the Leavey Center.

Over the last two games, Saint-Supery has played 66 minutes to Smith’s nine and scored 22 points with 11 assists and eight rebounds compared to zero points, two assists and one rebound for his junior teammate. Saint-Supery finished with 14 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals against USF.

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“I thought Mario was really, really solid, he played heavy minutes tonight,” Few said on Wednesday. “I thought he did a really nice job. Six assists, one turnover, made his shots and was pretty solid on the defensive end.”

Prior to the Santa Clara game, Saint-Supery had exceeded 30 minutes just once this season, tallying 32 against Alabama at the Players Era Festival. The Malaga, Spain, native has been one of the most reliable perimeter shooters on a team that hasn’t been particularly strong in that area this season and accounted for two of Gonzaga’s five 3-pointers on Wednesday.

“He’s just been playing good, he’s playing good,” Few said. “He’s been playing good in big moments, so it was time to reward him a little bit.”

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More history for Ike

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Outside of Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett, nobody in the WCC has seen more of Graham Ike than San Francisco’s Chris Gerlufsen, whose team matched up with the all-conference forward for the seventh time in three seasons on Wednesday.

Ike’s always been a challenging scout for the Dons, but has generally done most of his work within 10 feet of the basket while playing anywhere from 23-30 minutes per game in matchups with USF.

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The forward’s offensive game and stamina have both evolved during his time in Spokane — things Gerlufsen and the Dons noticed on Wednesday, when Ike hit a variety of pull-up jump shots and step-back 3’s while logging a team-high 36 minutes.

“Graham Ike is one helluva player,” Gerflusen said. “His development of not only of his game, but his body, his conditioning. He never would’ve been able to play that many minutes. That says a lot about him, how he’s wired and how he’s built. I have a lot of respect for that. Just his ability to affect the game at the rim, at the midrange, now he’s making 3’s. Playing with a lot of swagger and a lot of confidence and certainly playing like a First Team All-American in my eyes.”

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Ike continues to make history for Gonzaga in his final year of eligibility. The Aurora, Colorado, native became the first GU player since Adam Morrison and Derek Raivio to score at least 20 points in eight consecutive games, tallying 22 points on 10 of 17 shooting and 2 of 5 from the 3-point line on Wednesday.

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“I think there’s a lot of traffic in the paint right now and a lot of different coverages in there, so he’s stepping out, he’s showing he can make those shots,” Few said. “For the most part, most of them were pretty good shots. But there at the end, he kind of went back to the bread and butter and got in there and got himself some shots around the basket.”

Back to the Bay?

Few suspects his Gonzaga program will be back in the San Francisco Bay Area for future games after it leaves the West Coast Conference. There’s a good chance the Zags will be back at the Chase Center at some point.

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It’s unlikely, however, the opponents will be San Francisco, Saint Mary’s or Santa Clara — three of GU’s toughest contenders in the WCC over the last 30-plus years.

“It’s a great stop on the circuit and it’s a great city, I’ve got some great friends here now with Steve (Kerr) … Steph (Curry), great shared experiences with,” said Few, who worked under the Golden State Warriors coach and alongside the NBA sharpshooter two summers ago at the Paris Olympics. “It’s not like we won’t be back. We’ll play some one-off games here and we’ll be around. There’s NCAA Tournament games here coming very soon, there’s all that so I think we’ll be back.”

The Zags extended one of their most impressive streaks on Wednesday by beating the Dons for the 35th straight game.

“It’s unbelievable, our guys deserve all the credit,” Few said. “… They’ve had some great teams, some great coaches. Chris does a really, really good job and does a lot of different things offensively, a lot of different things defensively you don’t see. To be able to handle that all these years … Kyle Smith, Todd Golden and kind of the whole run.”

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South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Canterbury Bulldogs Tips, Odds, Teams & Predictions – NRL Round 5 2026

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Accor Stadium will play host to Friday’s
Round 5 NRL game between South Sydney Rabbitohs and
Canterbury Bulldogs. The game kicks off at 4:05 pm with South Sydney Rabbitohs heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the South Sydney Rabbitohs vs.
Canterbury Bulldogs
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Friday April 3, 2026 at 4:05 pm

Where: Accor Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

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South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Canterbury Bulldogs Odds

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Canterbury Bulldogs Preview

South Sydney face Canterbury in a clash that pits attacking flair against defensive grit. The Rabbitohs’ ability to create opportunities through their spine remains a key strength, while the Bulldogs will rely on structure and resilience. Field position and completion rates are likely to shape the outcome, with both sides aiming to control tempo. Expect a competitive contest, with momentum swings and pressure moments playing a decisive role. This encounter provides a valuable measure of both teams’ early-season form.

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Canterbury Bulldogs Teams

Souths team: 1. Jye Gray 2. Alex Johnston 3. Latrell Mitchell 4. Jack Wighton 5. Campbell Graham 6. Cody Walker 7. Jamie Humphreys 8. Tevita Tatola 9. Bronson Garlick 10. Keaon Koloamatangi 11. David Fifita 12. Tallis Duncan 13. Cameron Murray 14. Peter Mamouzelos 15. Lachlan Hubner 16. Sean Keppie 17. Liam Le Blanc 18. Jayden Sullivan 19. Moala Graham-Taufa 20. Salesi Ataata 21. Thomas Fletcher 22. Latrell Siegwalt

Bulldogs team: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Enari Tuala 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Matt Burton 7. Lachlan Galvin 8. Max King 9. Bailey Hayward 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Jaeman Salmon 14. Kurt Mann 15. Sitili Tupouniua 16. Harry Hayes 17. Sean O’Sullivan 19. Bronson Xerri 20. Lipoi Hopoi 21. Jake Turpin 22. Logan Spinks 23. Jonathan Sua

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IPL: Shreyas Iyer-led PBKS hunt down 210 with ease, hand CSK second straight loss | Cricket News

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IPL: Shreyas Iyer-led PBKS hunt down 210 with ease, hand CSK second straight loss
Shreyas Iyer (BCCI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings registered an impressive five-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings in their IPL 2026 clash at Chepauk, chasing down a big target of 210 with confidence. Despite CSK putting up a strong total, PBKS handled the pressure better and sealed their second straight victory of the season.After being put in to bat, CSK built their innings around a solid partnership between Ayush Mhatre and Ruturaj Gaikwad. The duo added 96 runs for the second wicket, giving the team a strong platform.

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Mhatre was the standout performer, scoring a fluent 73 off 43 balls with a mix of boundaries and sixes.In the later stages, Sarfaraz Khan played a quick cameo, smashing 32 off just 12 balls, while Shivam Dube remained unbeaten on 45, finishing the innings strongly. Their efforts pushed CSK to a competitive total of 209/5 in 20 overs, which looked challenging on the surface.In reply, PBKS came out attacking and maintained a steady run rate throughout the chase. Young opener Priyansh Arya provided a quick start, while others chipped in to keep the scoreboard moving. Captain Shreyas Iyer played a key role, scoring a composed 50 off 29 balls and guiding the innings.Even when wickets fell at intervals, PBKS didn’t panic and continued to play positive cricket. Contributions from the middle order ensured the chase stayed on track, and they eventually reached 210/5 in 18.4 overs.While CSK impressed with the bat, their bowlers struggled to contain runs. PBKS, on the other hand, executed their chase smartly and deservedly came out on top.

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‘You Have Two Scenarios’ – Regian Eersel Breaks Down Rodtang vs. Takeru II At ONE SAMURAI 1

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Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon and Takeru “Natural Born Krusher” Segawa will meet once again, and the rematch has captured the attention of the global striking community.

The two superstars will collide for the ONE Interim Flyweight Kickboxing World Championship in the main event of ONE SAMURAI 1, which emanates live from the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, April 29.

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It will mark Takeru’s final kickboxing clash and his last chance to win ONE World Title gold. Meanwhile, “The Iron Man” has an opportunity to achieve two-sport glory and become the only person to defeat the Japanese icon twice.

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Chase DeLauter rakes fifth home run in seventh career regular-season game as Guardians top Cubs in home opener

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When Cleveland Guardians rookie right fielder Chase DeLauter fouled a Shohei Ohtani pitch off his back foot on Tuesday night, it looked like the 24-year-old himself might be the only one who could actually put a stop to his season-opening power surge.

After grounding out later in that at-bat, DeLauter left the game with a left foot contusion, and he didn’t play in the series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers the following day, although manager Stephen Vogt said DeLauter was supposed to be off regardless.

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With negative X-rays, DeLauter was confident he’d return to the lineup for the Guardians’ home opener on Friday. He was back, and the same could be said for his seismic swing, which delivered another home run in a 4-1 win over the Chicago Cubs.

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Blue Jays’ Mason Fluharty to start Game 2 vs. White Sox

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The left-handed reliever will start Saturday’s Game 2 against the Chicago White Sox, Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith reported Friday.

Eric Lauer had been scheduled to start, but manager John Schneider told reporters pre-game on Friday that the team elected to give him an extra day’s rest.

Fluharty, 24, has pitched 1.2 innings across four games this year, owning a 10.80 ERA with four strikeouts and no walks.

In his rookie season in 2025, the Lewes, Del., native owned a 4.44 ERA with 56 strikeouts and 24 walks across 52.2 innings in relief.

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Catch Saturday’s game on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ with coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT.

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Adelaide Crows vs Fremantle Dockers Tips, Odds and Teams – AFL Round 4 2026

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Adelaide Oval will play host to Friday’s
Round 4 AFL game between Adelaide Crows and
Fremantle Dockers. The game kicks off at 7:15 pm with Adelaide Crows heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Adelaide Crows vs.
Fremantle Dockers
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Friday April 3, 2026 at 7:15 pm

Where: Adelaide Oval

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

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Adelaide Crows vs Fremantle Dockers Odds

Adelaide Crows vs Fremantle Dockers Preview

Two sides fully invested in their 2026 ambitions face off in what shapes as a revealing early-season encounter. Both teams have shown flashes of high-end performance, but consistency remains a work in progress. Midfield battles and turnover efficiency are expected to be pivotal, with each side looking to control tempo and territory. Defensive structures will also come under scrutiny against attacking units capable of quick scoring bursts. With pressure building to deliver results, this match offers a valuable insight into which team is better equipped to sustain performance and handle key moments.

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Oklahoma Sooners beat Kentucky 9-1 for fourth-straight win

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The Oklahoma Sooners moved to 37-3 and 10-1 in SEC play with a 9-1 run-rule win over the Kentucky Wildcats on Friday. It was the Sooners’ fourth straight win and their 11th game in a row in which the pitching staff allowed fewer than four runs.

The Sooners fell behind in the first inning once again when Kentucky took a 1-0 lead on Carly Sleeman’s lead-off home run. But starting pitcher Miali Guachino settled in to retire the next three hitters in order. That kicked off a run of nine straight Kentucky hitters retired by Guachino. The Wildcats’ next hit wouldn’t come until the fourth inning, a lead-off single from No. 2 hitter Allie Blum.

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In the win, Guachino allowed just three hits over four innings, striking out three, to move to 11-0 on the season.

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It didn’t take long for the Sooners to answer the first inning home run by Sleeman. In the bottom of the first, Lexi McDaniel and Ailana Agbayani earned two-out walks with the bases loaded to push across a pair of Oklahoma runs to retake the lead.

In the second inning, Oklahoma’s lineup went to work. Kendall Wells’ sacrifice fly moved Abby Dayton to third on a sacrifice fly, and Kasidi Pickering drove Dayton in on an infield single. Ella Parker doubled to drive in Gabbie Garcia to make it 4-1, and Lexi McDaniel’s two-RBI single made it 6-1 Sooners.

After a strong night hitting with two outs on Thursday, the Sooners picked up right where they left off with each of their first six runs coming with two outs on Friday.

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In the third, Kendall Wells hit her 29th home run of the season, giving her eight home runs in 11 SEC contests in her true freshman season.

Fellow freshman McDaniel put Oklahoma in run-rule territory with a two-run home run, giving her five RBIs on the day. The home run was her ninth of the season. It was McDaniel’s first home run since March 11 against Tulsa.

With the win, the Sooners secured the series against the Wildcats. They’ll close the series with a Saturday morning contest vs. Kentucky, looking to complete the three-game sweep ahead of their series with the Texas Longhorns next weekend in Austin.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma beats Kentucky 9-1 in run-rule fashion

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‘Spinners’ off day cost us’: CSK captain throws Rahul Chahar and Noor Ahmad under the bus after loss to PBKS | Cricket News

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'Spinners' off day cost us': CSK captain throws Rahul Chahar and Noor Ahmad under the bus after loss to PBKS

Ruturaj Gaikwad blamed his spinners for Chennai Super Kings’ five-wicket loss to Punjab Kings in their IPL match on Friday, saying an off day from them hurt the team despite a strong total on the board.Chennai Super Kings posted 209 for 5, with Ayush Mhatre scoring 73 off 43 balls. But Punjab Kings chased down the target in 18.4 overs, led by captain Shreyas Iyer, who made 50.After the match, Gaikwad pointed to the performance of his spinners, Noor Ahmad and Rahul Chahar, as a key factor in the defeat. Chennai had seam options like Gurjapneet Singh and Jamie Overton available as impact substitutes but chose to bring in Chahar.“We felt we had three seamers going in, and obviously we have two good wrist spinners (Noor Ahmad and Rahul Chahar) bowling in tandem, especially in the middle after the powerplay. We felt that, you know, it will help,” said Gaikwad.“But I think, you know, slight off day for both of them. So, I think, that is what cost us. Sometimes we executed really well. Sometimes we just didn’t execute at the right time,” he added.He said the team could not build pressure in the middle overs.“There was a point when it (required run-rate) went to 11, and a couple of good overs would have taken it to 12-13. We just did not get momentum in the middle (with the ball).”Gaikwad added that the batting had positives, with contributions from Mhatre and Shivam Dube, but said the bowling needs to improve.Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer said the start given by openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh played a big role in the chase.“The way we started today, that was an exceptional start for us. I feel the way they (Arya and Prabhsimran) have been batting has been phenomenal and it stabilises the rhythm for us,” Iyer said.“I am glad everyone is getting to bat. It gives immense confidence to the team. Whenever we are in a pressure situation, people are aware on how to handle it. We just decided in the dressing room, we will play a brand of cricket to impress each other — that gives us a certain sort of clarity, and basically challenging each other.”In the chase, Iyer’s 50 off 29 balls and his 59-run stand with Nehal Wadhera helped Punjab reach 210 for five. The target was 209.Punjab also got contributions from Priyansh Arya (39 off 11), Prabhsimran Singh (43 off 34) and Cooper Connolly (36 off 22).Iyer started slowly, scoring 8 off 9 balls while Connolly took charge. After Connolly fell to Anshul Kamboj, Iyer took control and targeted the spinners. He reached his fifty in 26 balls but was later dismissed by Kamboj while going after a wide delivery.Punjab completed the chase in 18.4 overs, handing Chennai their second loss in a row.

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Rashee Rice will not face NFL suspension amid assault allegations

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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice will not face discipline under the NFL’s personal conduct policy amid an ongoing civil lawsuit accusing him of domestic assault.

The NFL announced April 3 it had concluded its investigation into the accusations made against Rice by his former girlfriend, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

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“There was insufficient evidence to support a finding that he violated the personal conduct policy,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement.

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Sean Lindsey, an attorney representing Rice, addressed the news with a statement of his own.

“Mr. Rice wants to thank the NFL for their thorough investigation, and looks forward to the start of the 2026-27 NFL season,” Lindsey said.

LERNER: The NFL is investigating Rashee Rice − here’s what happens next

Rice was named in a civil lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend in the Dallas County (Texas) court system on Feb. 16, 2026. The lawsuit alleged Rice assaulted the woman multiple times over a 19-month period. Police have not filed criminal charges related to the allegations against Rice.

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The complaint alleged that the Chiefs wide receiver had “grabbed, choked, strangled, pushed, thrown, scratched, hit, and headbutted” his ex-girlfriend. She also alleges Rice threw things at her, “destroy[ed] property, punch[ed] walls, [broke] furniture” and locked her out of their shared home “in the middle of the night.”

Rice’s former girlfriend, who is also the mother of their two children, shared an Instagram post on Jan. 7 alleging she had been the victim of domestic violence for several years. She did not mention Rice by name in that post, which featured a picture of her with a bloody lip. The post has since been deleted.

“It’s been nothing but hell,” she wrote, adding, “I’ve protected his image too long and I’m done doing that. It’s time to protect my peace, protect my children and stand up for myself.”

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According to the lawsuit, Rice’s ex-girlfriend was pregnant during much of the alleged abuse. She is seeking more than $1 million in damages in the civil suit.

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The lawsuit remains open, according to Dallas County court records.

USA TODAY Sports’ Jack McKessy also contributed to this report.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL concludes Rashee Rice investigation, will not discipline Chiefs WR

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Teofimo Lopez lined up for immediate title shot despite Shakur Stevenson loss

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Teofimo Lopez could be handed an immediate opportunity to bounce back in a major way following a one-sided defeat to Shakur Stevenson.

Lopez put his WBO super-lightweight world title on the line against Stevenson back in January. Despite boasting a size advantage, the champion was thoroughly outclassed by the challenger, with Stevenson winning almost every round on the scorecards to become a four-weight world champion at just 28.

Not long after the loss, Lopez announced that he would be moving up to welterweight to join a stacked division, complete with champions Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, Lewis Crocker and Rolando Romero.

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Garcia had said previously that he would be fighting Lopez this summer, and, during a live stream this week, went as far as confirming the date of July 25 for the fight.

‘King Ry’ won the WBC belt by handily beating Mario Barrios three weeks following Lopez-Stevenson. Though he has publicly targeted a unification fight with WBO champ Haney – a rematch following their controversial 2023 meeting in 2023 – he appears to have settled on a voluntary defence against Lopez, who is not yet ranked in the division.

The fight, however, is not official, and it would be a bold move for the WBC to allow yet another voluntary defence of their belt, with a mandatory fight not enforced in several years.

Barrios was upgraded from interim to full champion in 2024, and made his first defence against number eight ranked Abel Ramos, retaining the belt with a draw.

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He then made another voluntary defence against returning Manny Pacquiao, drawing again to retain the title, before facing Garcia in yet another non-ordered bout. The sanctioning body made Conor Benn mandatory challenger at the beginning of this year.

He fights next weekend in London against Regis Prograis in a catchweight bout at 150lbs. Despite recently linking up with Zuffa Boxing – a promotional company intent on sidelining the major sanctioning bodies – the Brit says he will fight for the belt before the end of the year.

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