Naoya Inoue’s showdown with pound-for-pound rival Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez may have to wait, leaving the Japanese superstar potentially searching for another opponent in the meantime.

‘The Monster’ outpointed Junto Nakatani in May – a performance that will live long in the memory of Japanese fight fans. Inoue was then immediately linked with Rodriguez, who recently moved up in weight to become bantamweight champion and take one step closer to the super-fight.

Following the fight, ‘Bam’s trainer, Robert Garcia, said that he would like his charge to have another fight at 122lbs before moving to 126 for Inoue.

As a result, Inoue could look to face someone else in order to maintain his activity. After flooring recent Inoue opponent Luis Nery six times last month in a dominant four-round knockout win, three-division world champion John Riel Casimero wants to be that man, as per the Inquirer.

“It’s up to my promoter, but we all know who I want next and the one I have been wanting to fight, but this win just showed why Naoya Inoue was scared to fight me. That’s why.”

The 37-year-old Filipino has been pursuing a fight with the Japanese superstar for several years and had been set for a unification contest in April 2020 until the COVID-19 pandemic intervened.

Casimero’s repeated attempts to provoke Inoue have appeared to ruffle the Japanese star’s feathers. Whether that approach proves effective or costly could become clear in the coming months as ‘The Monster’ weighs up his next move.

A newly-crowned world champion insists he has no interest in swerving any potential rivals, including heavyweight prodigy Moses Itauma.

The 21-year-old comes off a destructive fifth-round finish over Jermaine Franklin in March, but now looks to complete what is, on paper, his toughest assignment thus far.

This will arrive in the form of a clash with Filip Hrgovic on August 29, with Itauma bidding to extend his unbeaten record at London’s O2 Arena.

More importantly, Hrgovic should determine whether Itauma is a genuine world-class talent, with the Croatian having previously gone toe-to-toe in competitive encounters against the likes of Daniel Dubois and Zhilei Zhang.

The Dubois fight, in particular, saw Hrgovic prove himself at world level, despite their June 2024 contest ultimately resulting in an eighth-round stoppage defeat.

But while Itauma has agreed to face the 34-year-old in August, there is a chance he abandons this plan and pursues an IBF title fight with Frank Sanchez.

The pair have been ordered to collide following Oleksandr Usyk’s decision to vacate his three belts, with the IBF giving both sides until July 29 to agree terms.

But Itauma is nonetheless closing in on a world title shot, regardless of whether he faces Hrgovic or Sanchez, and could eventually find himself in the ring with Agit Kabayel.

Speaking with Ring Magazine, the WBC champion said he would happily face Itauma – and any other competitor, for that matter.

“For me, it’s no problem – I’ll fight everyone. Now, I’m in the best situation. When the No.1 challenger is ready … [I’ll fight him].

“When we fight for [another] belt, maybe the WBA or WBO belt … We’ll make a unification [match].”

Kabayel was elevated from ‘interim’ to full WBC champion following Usyk’s decision to vacate his belts and, in turn, avoid any mandatory duties.

Switzerland ended an 88-year wait for a FIFA World Cup knockout victory after beating Algeria 2-0 to book their place in the last 16 of the 2026 tournament.

Goals from Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye secured a comfortable victory for Murat Yakin’s side in Vancouver and helped Switzerland achieve their first World Cup knockout win since defeating Germany in 1938.

The Swiss made a bright start and took the lead after just 10 minutes thanks to a brilliant piece of play from exciting youngster Johan Manzambi. The Freiburg winger beat his marker with skill and pace before delivering a perfect cutback for Rennes striker Embolo, who finished from close range.

Switzerland doubled their advantage just 46 seconds into the second half when Nottingham Forest winger Ndoye produced a composed finish inside the penalty area to put his side firmly in control.

The victory was another historic moment for Switzerland, who scored more than one goal in a World Cup knockout match for the first time since their famous 7-5 defeat to Austria in the 1954 quarter-finals.

Algeria, who were hoping to record their first-ever victory in the World Cup knockout stages, struggled to create clear opportunities. Their best chance came before half-time when Fares Chaibi’s weak effort was comfortably saved by Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

The North Africans rarely threatened after the break as Switzerland controlled the game with confidence and experience.

Switzerland nearly added a third goal late in the match when Fabian Rieder found himself with an open goal at the back post, but he mishit his effort straight at Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane.

The victory means Switzerland have now reached the World Cup last 16 for the fourth consecutive tournament and will face the winners of the Colombia versus Ghana match on 7 July at BC Place in Vancouver.

While captain Granit Xhaka marked his 150th international appearance with another impressive display, it was 20-year-old Johan Manzambi who once again stole the spotlight.

The young winger’s brilliant run and assist for the opening goal highlighted his growing importance to the Swiss team. Having already scored three goals during the group stage, Manzambi registered his second assist of the tournament.

According to Opta, Manzambi has become the first Swiss player to be directly involved in five goals at a World Cup since detailed records began in 1966. At just 20 years and 261 days old, he is also the youngest player from any nation to achieve that feat since 1966.

With performances like this, Manzambi is quickly becoming one of the breakout stars of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Former French striker David Trezeguet has made his pick known in the never-ending Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo debate. The debate has raged for years, with both players competing with each other at the highest levels for nearly two decades.

Trezeguet spoke exclusively with Ballondor.com, revealing the difference between the pair of iconic players. He hailed Messi as the more natural player of the two, referring to Ronaldo as a European prototype and example for younger players, but his preference of Messi was apparent.

“I’ve always had a soft spot for Messi. He’s the kind of player I’d pay for a ticket to go and watch, he’s the different one. A player a lot more natural, the people’s player. Cristiano is a European prototype, an example. A guy I’ve been able to see day-to-day from a different angle as a Juventus player, watching his everyday life over three years, a guy who scored over 100 goals, a 100% professional.

One made his dream of winning a World Cup, the other one goes in search of it. So, on a personal level, or in that objective, it’s human and spontaneous to want more because they know it’s their last competition”, he said.

David Trezeguet was part of the France squad that won the FIFA World Cup in 1998 and reached the final right years later. He played in the same era as both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo before he ended his career 12 years ago.

Messi and Ronaldo are playing in their sixth edition of the World Cup this summer aged 39 and 41, respectively. Individual choices differ when picking between both players, but the fact that they are arguably the greatest duo to play in the same era as contemporaries is undeniable.

Cristiano Ronaldo beats Lionel Messi to FIFA World Cup record

Cristiano Ronaldo has beaten rival Lionel Messi to another FIFA World Cup record after Portugal faced Croatia. The 41-year-old was on the scoresheet as his team recorded an important victory that sends them to the Round of 16 of the competition.

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo’s goal made him the oldest player to ever score in the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup. He also became the oldest player to feature in a knockout match in the competition in the same game.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have spent the summer breaking records and surpassing other icons of the game. With the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner in action less than 24 hours from his rival, he will also be out to claim some records for himself.