The opponent for Katie Taylor’s swansong at Croke Park has left many scratching their heads, wondering who, exactly, is Flora Pili?

It has been confirmed that the 82,300-capacity stadium will play host when Taylor looks to reclaim her undisputed super-lightweight crown at Croke Park, Dublin, on September 5.

The Irish phenom currently holds the IBF, WBO and WBA world titles but, as the WBC’s ‘emeritus’ champion, she will also face Pili for the full green and gold belt.

This is because Sandy Ryan, now WBC champion in recess, will take time away from the sport while pregnant, presenting Taylor with the opportunity to become a three-time undisputed champion.

Standing in the 39-year-old’s way of a successful farewell fight, meanwhile, is Pili, who represents a somewhat unheralded opponent for one of the all-time greats.

Was Flora Pili a successful amateur?

Most notably, Pili became a French Youth champion and won a Senior National title in 2015 and 2019, respectively, while also competing in several international tournaments during her amateur career.

Interestingly, she fought in an international round robin tournament in Dublin, only to suffer defeats against vastly-accomplished amateurs Kellie Harrington and Irma Testa in 2017.

Pili also lost to Lucy Wildheart during her unpaid campaign, only this came in 2016 and could hardly be used as ammunition against her professional credibility.

What are Flora Pili’s professional accolades?

Pili boasts a professional record of 12-0 (2 KOs) but the majority of her performances have come against limited opposition, at least in comparison to the level at which Taylor has been competing.

She did, however, edge a split decision against Silvia Bortot to claim the European title in 2023, while her last outing resulted in a majority points win over Jelena Janicijevic for the IBO strap in December.

Where is Flora Pili ranked by the sanctioning bodies?

Pili is the leading contender with both the WBC and IBF, while the WBA have her placed at No.4 in their super-lightweight rankings.

The 28-year-old seemingly earned her lofty rankings by outpointing Janicijevic, who gave a strong account of herself in their 10-round contest.

Knicks center Mitchell Robinson rises to block a shot. —AP

SAN ANTONIO—New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson was neither offended nor frustrated when the San Antonio Spurs began intentionally fouling him in the first quarter of Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Friday night.

While he did go 3 of 6 on free throws in the opening quarter, the Hack-a-Mitch strategy inspired Robinson and the rest of the Knicks.

“It means a lot when I ruin their strategy, but I mean, it seems like they just want me off the court,” Robinson said. “So, in my eyes, I feel like I’m a threat.”

Was he ever.

Robinson, Landry Shamet and the Knicks’ role players came up huge as New York held on to beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-104 for their 13th straight postseason victory and a 2-0 lead in the finals.

Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 21 points, but said in a postgame interview with ESPN that those players, along with the likes of Deuce McBride and Jose Alvarado, were the MVPs of the game.

“Our team play had got us here,” Towns said.

Big burst

After Towns went to the bench with foul trouble and fellow All-Star Jalen Brunson was resting, Knicks coach Mike Brown went to his reserves and they rewarded him with a big burst.

“Somebody is always there,” Brown said.

“Again, a lot of contributions from a lot of guys, and that’s why you like having a team, because it could be anybody’s night on any given night. Our guys don’t care. They sacrifice for one another and we found a way to get a win.”

New York’s bench accounted for 27 points and 10 rebounds, and Robinson defended Victor Wembanyama when the Spurs’ star missed a jumper that would have won the game.

“Our effort, it’s been crazy,” Robinson said. “We just came out there just fighting, you know, talking to each other. Communication, that’s been key for us.”

Clinging to a four-point lead late in the third quarter, the Knicks bridged the third and fourth quarters on an 11-3 run fueled by Robinson, Alvarado, McBride, Shamet and starting guard Mikal Bridges.

Shamet finished with 13 points, Robinson had seven, McBride added five and Alvardo had two. Shamet’s 3-pointer put New York ahead 87-75 a minute into the fourth quarter.

Defensive stands

Bridges had four points, one assist and one rebound during the run and helped the Knicks hold the Spurs to 1-of-5 shooting.

“I think started just defensively getting stops,” Bridges said. “I think that’s the biggest thing, us getting stops and getting out. Just him giving me confidence to try to make the right play.”

Robinson did the same.

After thwarting the Hack-a-Mitch strategy in the first quarter, Robinson sealed the victory in the final minute with two defensive stands against Wembanyama.

With the game tied at 104, Wembanyama missed a 17-footer with 30 seconds remaining with Robinson defending. Wembanyama then missed a 20-footer with two seconds remaining and the Spurs trailing by one point.

“In my mind, I was just like, defend without fouling,” Robinson said. “So, that was kind of like how it went. Just great contest, and just kind of how it went.” —AP

Anthony Joshua will return to action next month, seeking to tee up an in-demand clash with Tyson Fury by delivering a statement knockout against Albania’s Kristian Prenga. If successful in both of those bouts, there are five opponents on Joshua’s mind for 2027.

Since an unsuccessful attempt to dethrone Daniel Dubois and become a three-time heavyweight world champion in September 2024, Joshua has appeared only once; banking six rounds in a gimmick fight against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

Now, ‘AJ’ is back amongst the chasing pack, keen to remind fight fans of his pedigree and power, beginning with a July ‘tune-up’ against Prenga, who is expected to pose little threat ahead of a showdown with ‘The Gypsy King’ in November.

Speaking with Ring Magazine, Joshua highlighted five ‘massive fights’ that he is eyeing up after his feud with Fury is settled.

“With me and Fury, it can’t be the only one [left], because I know that if I stay around long enough there is a rematch with [Daniel] Dubois, there is a potential Fabio [Wardley] fight, there is the Agit [Kabayel] fight out there, provided he becomes champion, I like how big that would be.

“There is the [Moses] Itauma fight, as he is coming up the rankings, there is still the [Deontay] Wilder fight out there. These are going to be massive fights.

“Fury is just another number and I am trying to say that I don’t put him on no pedestal, he ain’t above no-one, they are all in my way, all on the same level. I am not putting him above no-one.”

Joshua-Prenga takes place on Saturday, July 25, with a new fight location of Jeddah since being confirmed for the event, despite it previously being announced that the card would take place in Riyadh.

Optus Stadium will play host to Saturday’s
Round 13 AFL game between West Coast Eagles and
Port Adelaide Power. The game kicks off at 8:15 pm with Port Adelaide Power heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the West Coast Eagles vs.
Port Adelaide Power
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday June 6, 2026 at 8:15 pm

Where: Optus Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

West Coast Eagles vs Port Adelaide Power Odds

West Coast Eagles vs Port Adelaide Power Preview

West Coast will be chasing a season sweep of Port Adelaide when the sides meet at Optus Stadium on Saturday night. The Eagles claimed one of the surprises of the season when they edged the Power by two points in Adelaide earlier this year and arrive with confidence after defeating Essendon last weekend. Youngster Willem Duursma continues to impress, while Jake Waterman has rediscovered strong form in attack. Port Adelaide, meanwhile, returns from a bye looking to halt a four-game losing streak. The Power have struggled for consistency in 2026 despite the brilliance of Jason Horne-Francis, who remains one of the competition’s standout performers. With both clubs desperate to build momentum heading into the second half of the year, Saturday night’s clash could prove pivotal to their respective seasons.

Teddy Atlas has highlighted one major factor that could make Dmitry Bivol too great of a risk for David Benavidez.

Their potential undisputed clash could materialise later this year, or early next year, though both light-heavyweight champions are equally considering alternative options.

With Bivol having just retained his IBF, WBO and WBA titles against Michael Eifert, there appears to be considerable interest in an Artur Beterbiev trilogy showdown in Russia.

Beterbiev won their first encounter by majority decision in October 2024, while Bivol claimed his undisputed crown via the same margin in their rematch the following February.

It would therefore make sense for the pair to enter a rubber match, potentially leaving Benavidez to remain at 200lbs in pursuit of further titles.

‘The Mexican Monster’ dethroned Gilberto Ramirez with a sixth-round stoppage last month, becoming a three-division world champion by claiming the WBO and WBA cruiserweight titles.

Since then, he has become the mandatory challenger to WBC cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian, while still holding his green and gold strap at 175lbs.

If it were up Atlas, Benavidez would be targeting a three-belt unification match in his current weight division, rather than making the same mistake that Roy Jones Jr did in his illustrious career.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, the Hall of Fame trainer explained the danger of coming down in weight after having acclimatised to the division above.

“The only concern I have is [with Benavidez] going up and down in weight. Case in point: Roy Jones Jr.

“When he went up [to fight] John Ruiz to win that version of the heavyweight title, then came back down, he was never the same. He was getting older, but he was never the same.

“[If] you go up in weight and then you’ve gotta come down – [Benavidez] can do it, but it could be a problem.”

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In the case of pound-for-pound legend Jones, a bold decision to re-join the 175lb weight class ultimately contributed to him suffering a second-round stoppage defeat to Antonio Tarver.

The college football world has closely followed the ongoing Brendan Sorsby court case against the NCAA. While a federal judge weighs a decision, Texas Tech recently appealed to the NCAA in an effort to secure Sorsby’s eligibility. As expected, the NCAA denied the request, leaving Sorsby’s fate in the hands of a Texas federal court judge.

In many ways, the move was embarrassing for Texas Tech. Supporting a player and helping him navigate a difficult situation is one thing—that’s what programs should do. Doing the player’s public advocacy for him is another. For a program that aspires to compete with the likes of the Texas Longhorns, it comes across as a desperate and weak position.

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MORE: Brendan Sorsby’s Supplemental NFL Draft outlook is grim

Texas Tech should have moved on from Sorsby the moment he admitted to gambling on his own team while at Indiana. That’s an inexcusable action with potentially serious consequences for the integrity of the sport. Sorsby’s attorneys can talk about student well-being all they want, but the reality is simple: a player who gambles on his own team should never play college football again.

The Red Raiders knew the details once they became public. This is not a case of a program standing by a player after being misled or deceived. Instead, Texas Tech appears to be acting in bad faith in hopes of retaining its starting quarterback. Sorsby’s actions are not the program’s fault. Refusing to move on from them, however, is.

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A school can support a student-athlete while also acknowledging harsh realities. Actions have consequences, especially when they undermine the integrity of competition. When one player acts selfishly, the fallout extends beyond himself and affects everyone around him. Those consequences are now Texas Tech’s to bear.

MORE: Texas HC Steve Sarkisian warns about obvious growing issue in college football

The Red Raiders may simply be delaying the inevitable. The odds appear stacked against Sorsby receiving eligibility. Even if a judge ultimately rules in his favor, Texas Tech should seriously reconsider whether he belongs in its football program. How can the coaching staff and administration fully trust him again—not only to lead the team, but to make sound decisions moving forward?

In almost any other era, and likely with almost any other player, Texas Tech would have dismissed him immediately. The difference here is that Sorsby plays quarterback, and a talented quarterback at that. Talent, however, should not excuse behavior that threatens the credibility of the sport.

Regardless of how the judge rules, Texas Tech should move forward without Sorsby. Anything less would add insult to injury for a sport already fighting to preserve its integrity.

The Belmont Stakes has often been a race of stars. It’s not often that an out-of-nowhere horse shocks the world, compared to the Kentucky Derby, that is. But the Belmont Stakes 2026, which will run at 7:04 p.m. ET on Saturday, is not the longer, more-grueling 1½ miles due to the move to Saratoga Race Course, as Belmont Park continues major renovations. It’s now 1 ¼ miles, the same as the Kentucky Derby, which lately has been rife with shocking winners. Claim your exclusive TwinSpires $400 signup offer here with the promo code CBSSPORTS, more than what’s available to the general public:

Renegade has been the favorite in Belmont Stakes odds and remains atop the board, a 2-1 morning line favorite in the 2026 Belmont Stakes odds. But four other horses are right in the mix. Chief Wallabee is 3-1, Derby winner Golden Tempo is 9-2, while fellow Derby competitors Commandment and Emerging Market are both 6-1. With so much to consider while making your 2026 Belmont Stakes picks, a little expert help can go a long way.

Saratoga has its own, established history, and it hasn’t always been the best spot for favorites. Perhaps the most notable example came more than a century ago. In 1919, legendary horse Man o’ War suffered his only career defeat in 21 races at Saratoga. The horse that shocked the world was aptly named Upset – and yes, it coined the term still used when a big underdog beats a favorite.

Given all the history of the race, there’s a method to picking which horses to focus on for exacta, trifecta and superfecta bets in a Belmont Stakes like this, and SportsLine expert Jody Demling knows what it is. He can help you make the best 2026 Belmont Stakes picks possible.

A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling hit the top three finishers in the 2025 Kentucky Derby in the correct order. He also called 11 of the last 22 Preakness winners and predicted the winner of the Belmont Stakes four of the last eight years, including an exacta in 2022 with Mo Donegal and Nest. Anyone who has followed him on horse racing betting sites could be way up.

Now, with the 2026 Belmont Stakes post positions set and odds on the board, Demling is sharing his picks and 2026 Belmont Stakes betting predictions over at SportsLine. Go here to see them.

Claim your exclusive TwinSpires promo code CBSSPORTS $400 signup offer here, higher than what’s available to the general public:

Top 2026 Belmont Stakes expert picks

Here’s a refresher on these types of bets from SportsLine’s Jody Demling:

Belmont Stakes Exacta: Pick the first- and second-place finishers in the correct order. A $2 exacta returned $13.20 at the 2025 Belmont Stakes with Sovereignty and Journalism.

Belmont Stakes Trifecta: Pick the first-, second- and third-place finishers in the correct order. A $1 trifecta returned $13.80 at the 2025 Belmont Stakes with Sovereignty, Journalism and Baeza.

Belmont Stakes Superfecta: Pick the first-, second-, third- and fourth-place finishers in the correct order. A $1 superfecta returned a colossal $40.50 at the 2025 Belmont Stakes with Sovereignty, Journalism, Baeza and Rodriguez.

While Golden Tempo (9-2) is one of the favorites, Demling isn’t including the Kentucky Derby winner in his picks for the 2026 Belmont Stakes. “I still don’t believe he’s the best of this bunch and I don’t think he gets a perfect set up here like he did at Churchill,” Demling told SportsLine. He is building his tickets around an epic double-digit longshot who a legendary trainer is “very high on”, spicing up Demling’s 2026 Belmont Stakes exotics. You can see his picks here. 

How to make 2026 Belmont Stakes bets

Demling has specific recommendations for exacta, trifecta and superfecta wagers so you can cover all your bases at the Belmont Stakes 2026. He’s sharing them over at SportsLine.

So which horses do you take, and in what combinations? Visit SportsLine to get Demling’s picks for exacta, trifecta and superfecta bets for the 2026 Belmont Stakes.

2026 Belmont Stakes odds, futures, horses, post positions

File photo of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.© NDTV Library

Mirra Andreeva is a Grand Slam champion for the first time after defeating Maja Chwalinska 6-3, 6-2 in the Roland Garros final.

At just 19 years old, Andreeva becomes the youngest woman to win the French Open since Monica Seles in 1992.

The victory also sees Andreeva claim the sixth title of her career and move to No. 1 in the Race to the WTA Finals with a tour-leading 36 wins in 2026.

Despite the achievement, Andreeva was quick to recognize the run produced by Chwalinska, who came through qualifying and reached the first Grand Slam final of her career.

“Of course first of all congrats to Maja for these amazing three weeks. Passing through qualies, winning so many matches, beating so many great players, congrats to your team as well. You guys have done an amazing job.”

“You’re a very tricky opponent. I wouldn’t want to play against you one more time,” she joked. “I wish you the best of luck for the rest of the season.”

Andreeva also thanked her team for helping her reach the biggest moment of her career.

“Thanks to my team. I can be a tough cookie sometimes. It’s pretty hard to put up with me certain days.”

“Thank you very much for pushing me to my limits. Thank you for making me work even when I don’t want to work. You always push me.”

The teenager reserved a special message for her parents, who have supported her throughout her journey in tennis.

“I will say a special thanks to my parents for always supporting me and always believing in me. My dad is currently watching on TV. Thanks so much for always being there for me and supporting me no matter what.”

“Last but not least I also wanna thank myself for believing in myself. Always giving my 100% even when it’s tough. Trying every day to be better as a person and as a player.”

“Believing I can do this. Fighting so many demons inside of me. Only I know how tough it was for me. How nervous I was these last few weeks.”

“Also thanks to myself for working so hard and giving my best.”

At 19 years old, she is already a Grand Slam champion. Based on what she has shown this season, there may be many more major titles to come.