Man Utd youngster Jack Fletcher has been handed a six-game ban by the FA after he admitted using a homophobic insult during an EFL Trophy game.
Jack Fletcher has apologised for using a homophobic insult during an EFL Trophy fixture against Barnsley earlier this season after being handed a six-game suspension by the Football Association.
The son of former Manchester United midfielder and current Under-18s head coach Darren was sent off during the game against the League One outfit’s first team in October. He used the offensive term after becoming embroiled in a running battle with an older opponent, who made comments to him about his father and twin brother, Tyler.
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During the game, Fletcher snapped and asked why his opponent was so aware of his background, using a homophobic insult as part of the question.
After being charged by the FA, Fletcher explained he did not intend for the insult to be homophobic, something the governing body and the opponent involved accepted to be the case.
Referee Will Davis was one yard away from Fletcher when he heard the player use the offensive term. While he did not dispute it, Fletcher feels he was provoked during the game, including two off-the-ball incidents and having his Achilles stamped on.
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Fletcher regrets the lapse in character and insists it doesn’t represent his character or beliefs, and said it was uttered in an unguarded moment of anger. He said he understood his choice of words was unacceptable and apologised, accepting the FA charge at the earliest opportunity.
The youngster, who has made three appearances for the first team this season and is the son of Under-18s boss Darren, was banned for two games for the red card and has been handed a four-game ban after accepting an aggravated breach of FA rule E3.1. He has served three of those four games, with only non-first-team competitive fixtures counting.
Fletcher’s ban means he has missed the last three Premier League 2 games, and his suspension is due to finish with the Friday night fixture against Birmingham City in that competition.
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Fletcher, who was also fined £1,500 and ordered to attend FA education, said: “I am truly sorry for the offensive word that I used in the heat of the moment.
“Despite the fact that I had no intention to use the term as a homophobic insult, I completely understand that such language is unacceptable and immediately apologised after the game. I want to be clear that this momentary lapse of character absolutely does not reflect my beliefs or values.”
United have taken steps to enhance players’ understanding of discriminatory language and its harmful effects.
Manchester United defender is set to be available for the club’s match against Newcastle tonight despite being handed a suspended sentence by Greek authorities on Wednesday.
The Press Association understands Maguire intends to challenge the sentence, which was reduced in length from an initial 21-month sentence imposed in 2020.
Maguire’s legal team had been fighting to clear his name for the best part of six years. A panel of judges decided to uphold his conviction on Wednesday, but his original sentence was reduced to 15 months and 20 days and he was fined €1,500.
The decision to appeal to a higher court will have the effect of quashing this new judgment, as was the case when Maguire appealed against the first sentence in 2020.
Sources close to the player said Maguire and his legal representatives had rejected multiple efforts to settle the case out of court with a financial offer – including one made during the recess in Wednesday’s hearing – because he is committed to proving his innocence.
It is understood Maguire did not attend the hearing in Greece and is available for United’s match against Newcastle on Wednesday evening.
Sources close to the player said there were no travel restrictions on Maguire, which means as things stand he would be eligible to be part of England’s World Cup squad this summer.
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Maguire was initially found guilty in 2020 of assaulting a police officer, swearing, resisting arrest and attempted bribery. According to reports, Wednesday’s 15-month suspended sentence was imposed for non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery.
Maguire claimed that his younger sister, Daisy, was approached by two men, injected with an unknown substance and began drifting in and out of consciousness. He attempted to get her to a hospital but was instead taken to a police station, where he alleged he was beaten on the legs by uniformed men who he believed were impersonating officers.
Fearing he had been caught up in a kidnap attempt, he tried to flee but was apprehended and spent two nights in custody. The 32‑year‑old defender has denied any bribery accusations and rejects claims that he said: ‘Do you know who I am?’, as prosecutors alleged
Maguire is yet to comment following Wednesday’s sentencing, but told the BBC in August 2020 he was “scared for his life” and was concerned he, along with his family and friends, were being kidnapped.
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“We got down on our knees, we put our hands in the air, they just started hitting us,” Maguire told BBC Sport.
“They were hitting my leg saying my career’s over: ‘No more football. You won’t play again’.
“And at this point I thought there is no chance these are police or I don’t know who they are, so I tried to run away, I was in that much of a panic, fear, scared for my life. All the way through it.”
Maguire’s brother, Joe, was acquitted of attempted bribery. However, the appeals court upheld charges of aggravated assault and verbal abuse of the police.
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Manchester United have been approached for comment.
President Donald Trump will host a White House roundtable regarding college athletics reform later this week.
The panel is expected to include prominent coaches, college sports and pro sports league commissioners, and other professional athletes, according to OutKick.
The group will meet March 6 to examine solutions to key challenges, including NCAA authority; name, image and likeness issues (NIL); collective bargaining; and governance concerns.
President Donald Trump holds a football presented to him during a ceremony to present the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy to the US Naval Academy football team, the Navy Midshipmen, in the East Room of the White House on April 15, 2025 in Washington, D.C.(BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
The meeting Friday will include big names like Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Adam Silver and Tiger Woods. Trump has been adamant about “saving college sports,” even signing an executive order setting new restrictions on payments to college athletes back in July.
However, ESPN college analyst Paul Finebaum, who has previously hinted at a congressional run as a Republican, remains a bit skeptical.
“The easiest thing, guys, is just to say this is ridiculous,” Finebaum said to Greg McElroy and Cole Cubelic on WJOX. “And I read the other day, ‘Why is Nick Saban going?’ Why is anybody going? The bottom line is this. If something doesn’t happen very quickly, and I mean in the next short period of time, we’re talking about weeks, not years, then this thing could blow up.
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“However it came about, I’m in favor of. The question now becomes, with some of the most powerful people in Washington in the same room, including the most powerful person in the country, can anything get done, or will it be a circus? Will it be just another show?”
U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with former Alabama Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban as Trump takes the stage to address graduating students at Coleman Coliseum at the University of Alabama on May 01, 2025 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Trump’s order prohibits athletes from receiving pay-to-play payments from third-party sources. However, the order did not impose any restrictions on NIL payments to college athletes by third-party sources.
A House vote on the SCORE Act (Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements), which would regulate name, image, and likeness deals, was canceled shortly before it was set to be brought to the floor in December.
The White House endorsed the act, but three Republicans, Byron Donalds, Fla., Scott Perry, Pa., and Chip Roy, Texas, voted with Democrats not to bring the act to the floor. Democrats have largely opposed the bill, urging members of the House to vote “no.”
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President Donald Trump looks on before the college football game between the US Army and Navy at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, on Dec. 13, 2025. (Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)
The SCORE Act would give the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption in hopes of protecting the NCAA from potential lawsuits over eligibility rules and would prohibit athletes from becoming employees of their schools. It prohibits schools from using student fees to fund NIL payments.
Fox News’ Chantz Martin and Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.
Two-division world champion Lawrence Okolie has laid out his thoughts ahead of Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois’ upcoming showdown for the WBO heavyweight world title, after sparring both men.
A white-collar star, the rise of Wardley has been inspirational, giving hope to boxers of all levels that they too can reach the top with the correct discipline, hunger and attitude.
After moving up to world level last year, the Ipswich fan-favourite has come from behind to halt both Justis Huni and Joseph Parker to earn the WBO Interim heavyweight title, before being elevated to full world champion when Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt.
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Now, Wardley seeks to prove his legitimacy as a world champion, accepting a difficult voluntary defence for his first world title affair, taking on fellow Briton and former heavyweight ruler Dubois.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Okolie, who has shared the ring with both men behind the scenes, revealed that he gives Dubois the edge due to his superior experience and punch power.
“I think that Dubois is going to win because he has got a lot more experience at the level and he has beaten better guys.
“I think that, stylistically as well, if they do start trading, unless Fabio is that much quicker than him, Daniel definitely punches harder than him and is more concussive, so I think he will probably hurt him.
“However, with his [Wardley’s] confidence and Ben Davison, who I think is a really good coach, they might work on the right sequences to catch Dan and if they catch Dan early and hard, then we could see a few repeats of some of his performances.
NEW DELHI: England captain Harry Brook says unity, belief and staying calm under pressure have helped his team reach the T20 World Cup semi-finals — and they don’t need to play a “perfect game” to win the title.England, two-time champions, will face fellow two-time winners India in the semi-final for the third straight edition. While India were labelled favourites at the start, both teams have had ups and downs in the tournament.
India arrive for final net session before T20 World Cup semifinal
When asked if England would need a flawless performance to beat India at home, Brook said: “No, I don’t believe that we need a perfect game to win the competition to be honest.” He added, “The games that we have won have been nowhere near perfect and we’ve still managed to get the wins convincingly in some of them and then tight (in) the other games.”Brook credited team spirit. “But it’s just the unity that we’ve had to be able to get across the line, the belief that everybody’s shown throughout the games and the calmness that we’ve had when the bowlers have stood at the top of the mark,” he said.Calling the clash special, he said, “It’s up there for sure. It’s a dream come true for most of us to play in a World Cup semifinal against the home nation on a very iconic ground, so we’re all really looking forward to it.”Though confident, he admitted, “we haven’t quite played that perfect performance (yet) and I feel like it’s just around the corner… Hopefully, it’s tomorrow (Thursday) night.”Brook also backed out-of-form former captain Jos Buttler, saying, “There should be no reason to question why he’s on the team.”He dismissed concerns about playing spin and said one big individual effort could decide the match: “We don’t feel like we’re ever out of a game so far… I feel like there’s a big individual performance to come.”
Ireland back-rower Nick Timoney will make his first GuinnessSix Nations start as part of five personnel changes for Friday evening’s round-four clash with Wales in Dublin.
The 30-year-old Ulster player replaces Josh van der Flier at openside flanker following impressive cameos in the opening defeat to France and subsequent victories over Italy and England.
Jack Conan, who was a late withdrawal from the bench ahead of the 42-21 bonus-point win at Twickenham on 21 February due to illness, is recalled at blindside flanker, while loosehead prop Tom O’Toole and hooker Ronan Kelleher also come into the forward pack.
Jacob Stockdale replaces the injured James Lowe on the left wing in the only alteration to the backline.
Jamison Gibson-Park will win his 50th Ireland cap following his man-of-the-match display against England, while Ulster scrum-half Nathan Doak, 24, is set to make his international debut from the bench.
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Sam Prendergast has been left out of the matchday 23 for the second successive game, with Jack Crowley retained at fly-half and Ciaran Frawley again providing back-up.
Sam Prendergast has been left out of Ireland’s matchday 23 for the second successive game (PA Wire)
Centre Bundee Aki is also absent, despite returning to camp after competing the four-match ban which ruled him out of the start of the championship.
Lock Joe McCarthy and Van der Flier drop to the bench, while hooker Dan Sheehan has been given the evening off and prop Jeremy Loughman is unavailable because of a calf injury.
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Ireland, who host Scotland on the final weekend, are chasing the Triple Crown to keep alive hopes of overhauling France in the battle for the title.
O’Toole and Kelleher will pack down alongside tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong in the front row.
Tadhg Beirne switches from blindside flanker to partner James Ryan in the second row, while captain Caelan Doris continues at number eight, between Conan and Timoney.
Centres Stuart McCloskey and Garry Ringrose, right wing Robert Baloucoune and full-back Jamie Osborne are also retained.
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Ulster hooker Tom Stewart and Munster centre Tom Farrell are in line for Six Nations debuts from a bench which also includes props Michael Milne and Thomas Clarkson.
Head coach Andy Farrell said: “We have two special milestones in the squad this week at opposite ends of the scrum-half spectrum.
“I would firstly like to congratulate Nathan on his first international selection. Nathan has been around a few Ireland camps in recent years and has impressed with the consistency and quality of his play in training and with Ulster over a longer period.
“I know how much this means to Nathan and we are determined to make this a special few days for him and his family.
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“Also, Jamison becomes the 61st Irish international to reach the 50-cap mark which is an incredible achievement for a top-class professional.”
Ireland team to face Wales on Friday 6 March:
Starting XV: 1 Tom O’Toole, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 3 Tadhg Furlong; 4 James Ryan, 5 Tadhg Beirne; 6 Jack Conan, 7 Nick Timoney, 8 Caelan Doris (capt.); 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 10 Jack Crowley; 11 Jacob Stockdale, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 13 Garry Ringrose, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 15 Jamie Osbourne.
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Joe McCarthy, 20 Josh van der Flier, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Tom Farrell, 23 Ciaran Frawley.
OTTAWA — All season, Ottawa Senators fans have been discussing it: what’s more important, a top-six forward or a top-four defenceman?
The answer is clear: a top-four defenceman.
The Senators’ future on the right side of defence is muddied today and into the future, while much of Ottawa’s young forward group is signed into the next decade, with the notable exceptions of captain Brady Tkachuk and Drake Batherson.
Sure, the puck could find the back of the net more often, but the Senators as a collective have the 10th-best shooting percentage in the league. An issue has been that their defence is incomplete.
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In an ideal world, the Senators need to upgrade in both areas, but this season has been anything but ideal for Sens Nation.
Ottawa’s top four defence corps is settled, outside of pending unrestricted free agent Nick Jensen, who has played better of late but overall has struggled. It’s evident that Jensen is not the solution. He has been on the ice for 53 goals against at five-on-five: that’s the 13th-most of any player to play over 800 minutes this season, and third-most goals per 60 at 3.54 in the league. An addition to the right side of the top four could conceivably mean the Senators have one of the best defences in the league, led by Jake Sanderson, Thomas Chabot, Artem Zub and (insert trade-deadline acquisition).
Also, the narrative that Ottawa struggles to score is deceptive. The Senators are 11th in goals and have the eighth-best power play, while sitting 23rd in goals allowed per game.
Plus, what may have been Ottawa’s biggest question mark offensively, Dylan Cozens, has found his game.
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It’s naïve to think that Ottawa’s forward group is of championship calibre. But a top-six elite forward won’t fix finding a partner for Chabot. Most of the time in the NHL, you defend your way out of problems, not outscore them. General manager Steve Staios will eventually need to find a scoring winger, but presumably not before Friday’s trade deadline.
Ottawa’s centres Cozens, Tim Stutzle and Shane Pinto are all signed until 2030, while only Sanderson is signed to Ottawa’s blueline past 2028. The defence needs reinforcements.
We all know the reason the Senators’ season has been underwhelming. Every Senator goaltender this season has faltered, most notably Linus Ullmark with his .884 save percentage. Yet, on Tuesday in Edmonton, the Senators’ defence let Ullmark down.
We understand the Senators are six points out of a playoff spot, but Moneypuck.com gives them 39 per cent odds of making the playoffs. They’ve got points in eight of their last nine, and in games Ullmark has started and finished, he is 7-0-3 in his last 10 (he was pulled against Toronto on Dec. 27). They are clawing close enough to a playoff spot.
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If Ullmark’s run of play continues, that gives more reason to believe in the roster, if you’re Senators management.
32 Thoughts: The Podcast
Hockey fans already know the name, but this is not the blog. From Sportsnet, 32 Thoughts: The Podcast with NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas is a weekly deep dive into the biggest news and interviews from the hockey world.
The Senators should go all in, a bold deadline to bolster this season but, importantly, into the next few.
You have to capitalize on your window with Tkachuk signed, and with Sanderson and Stutzle on bargain contracts, making barely over $8 million a season. In theory, the next few seasons should be when the Senators become a contender.
Meanwhile, Staios clearly recognizes the need for a right-shot defenceman because his first two first-round selections as GM were grabbing just that in Carter Yakemchuk and Logan Hensler.
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The underrated plot point is that Zub is an unrestricted free agent in 2027, when he will be 31. Zub has created one of the best defensive partnerships in Senators’ history with Sanderson — in the same stratosphere as Erik Karlsson-Marc Methot or Zdeno Chara-Chris Phillips. It puts the Senators’ hierarchy in a precarious position, as youngsters Yakemchuk and Hensler aren’t likely to be impact contributors in the near term. Ottawa’s lack of draft capital, prospects and impending free agency to Zub means they have to plan to fill the right side of the defence for 2027-28.
All of these point to Ottawa needing a right-shot defenceman for the Sanderson-Stutzle-Tkachuk era of Senators hockey.
The Sens could trade one but not both of their prospects for the ready-to-win-now version of what you’d hope Yakemchuk and Hensler would someday become.
Elite right-shot defencemen are hard to acquire but not impossible. On Nick Kypreos’ Trade Board, there are plenty of right-shot defencemen with term.
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There’s MacKenzie Weegar, who is paid until he’s 38 but is an Ottawa native and a really good NHL defenceman. Imagine a top four of Sanderson-Zub and Chabot-Weegar? Pretty good now and into next season.
Also on Kypreos’ board are the likes of Tyler Myers, Justin Faulk, Dougie Hamilton, Rasmus Ristolainen and Braeden Schneider — all with team control until at the very least the end of next season.
None are perfect solutions, but some would be clear upgrades for this Senators franchise.
Priority No. 1 for Staios at the deadline must be to propel Ottawa into a playoff spot, in tandem with elevating the Senators’ lineup for 2026-27 and beyond.
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It would also insulate Yakemchuk’s future next season, meaning he wouldn’t be thrust too soon into a top-four role.
We acknowledge the Senators need to be prudent in not trading picks away needlessly for short-term gain, as former GM Pierre Dorion did, trading a first-rounder each for Alex DeBrincat and Jakob Chychrun, who combined for two-and-a-half seasons in Canada’s capital.
At the same time, the Senators aren’t as far away as they were then. They are ready to win now, not trying to expedite a rebuild with short-sighted, short-term swings at the wrong time, as Staios’ predecessor did.
Let’s be clear, any move must have term. Ottawa isn’t a free-agent destination, and without a first-round pick this season and just two elite prospects at their disposal. Staios has one shot at this.
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Something in the way of a smart, calculated gamble is in order.
Manchester City’s Premier League title battle with Arsenal has been handpicked in the latest TV selections as the two teams meet for the final time this season in April
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) lines up on defense during an NFC Wild Card playoff matchup with the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Jan. 13, 2025. Greenard prepares for the snap as Minnesota’s defense battles Los Angeles in the opening round of the NFC postseason. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings’ offseason was rocked on Tuesday by news that the team is open to trading Jonathan Greenard, as the veteran outside linebacker wants a contract extension while Minnesota’s budget is tight. If Minnesota cannot figure out a way to appease Greenard and prolong his deal, he could be shipped elsewhere for the equivalent of a 2nd- or 3rd-Round pick or so.
If Minnesota shops Greenard for cap relief, these six defenses have the money, need, and scheme fit.
And here’s where he might land in the scenario.
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The Clubs That Make Sense to Target Greenard via Trade
In all likelihood, the Vikings will figure out Greenard’s contract situation, but just in case…
A New England Patriots helmet rests quietly along the sideline as players warm up at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, with the preseason matchup unfolding on Aug. 10, 2023, against the Houston Texans. The scene captures a routine NFL moment before kickoff, with equipment lined up awaiting the start of action. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports.
6. New England Patriots
No overt general manager or coaching ties suggest Greenard to the Patriots; they just need EDGE defenders, plain and simple.
That’s right. The team that reached the Super Bowl last month is staring down an early March depth chart that has Anfernee Jennings and Harold Landry as its main EDGEs on tap for 2026. New England needs more. Mike Vrabel and friends have about $40 million in cap space ahead of free agency, more than enough to acquire Greenard and extend his deal if Minnesota cannot.
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Without question, Vrabel would cook with Greenard.
5. Atlanta Falcons
Greenard was born in Georgia and went to high school about 40 minutes from the Falcons’ stadium.
Meanwhile, Atlanta’s rookie EDGE from last year, James Pearce Jr., is in legal hot water, and the Falcons may not be able to count on him for the long term. He may be suspended, at minimum, for some portion of 2026.
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The Falcons don’t have oodles of cap space — $8 million as of March 4th — but they can probably find room in the budget to add Greenard if they’re concerned about Pearce Jr.’s new [and bad] trajectory.
4. San Francisco 49ers
The Kwesi Adofo-Mensah connection is in play here; Minnesota fired its general manager of four years at the end of January, and he landed in San Francisco, the club that gave him his first NFL job 13 years ago, as a personnel executive.
The 49ers’ EDGEs include the oft-injured Nick Bosa, injured Mykel Williams, and Bryce Huff. They need more stable commodities.
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Perhaps general manager John Lynch could package quarterback Mac Jones in a deal that sends him to Minnesota for Greenard and change.
3. Baltimore Ravens
Greenard entered the NFL in 2020, and his first defensive coordinator was a man named Anthony Weaver. Six years later, Weaver is the Ravens’ new defensive coordinator at the start of the Jesse Minter era.
Baltimore is never, ever shy about adding veteran defensive talent. Why not Greenard?
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Minnesota Vikings linebackers Jonathan Greenard (58) and Andrew van Ginkel (43) celebrate together after a defensive stop at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, during the first half of the matchup on Dec. 14, 2025, against the Dallas Cowboys. The moment highlights Minnesota’s energetic defensive presence during the regular-season road contest. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images.
The starting outside linebackers on paper for the 2026 Ravens? Mike Green and Tavius Robinson. Greenard would instantly replace Robinson as the OLB1 or OLB2, as Robinson logged a 50.4 Pro Football Focus grade in 2025. Not ideal.
The Ravens have about $18 million in cap space.
USA Today‘sAyrton Ostly noted the Ravens as a potential landing spot for Greenard: “Baltimore has a new head coach and overall staff under Jesse Minter but one thing remains the same: the Ravens desperately need help off the edge, especially with proven players.”
“The Ravens have some cap space, so it would take some work to get Greenard’s money under the cap in 2026. They’re projected to have 11 draft picks in April, which could interest Minnesota. They could also offer a younger player on defense, like T.J. Tampa, at cornerback to help the Vikings at a position of need.”
2. Dallas Cowboys
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Marcus Dixon joined the Vikings’ coaching staff as a defensive line coach in 2024 — right when Greenard signed on Minnesota’s dotted line. The Vikings did not renew Dixon’s contract this offseason, and he’s now the Cowboys’ defensive line coach.
Dallas is still reeling from the Micah Parsons trade. It needs EDGE help. Owner Jerry Jones also said this week that he sees his franchise as a big mover and shaker in free agency. A Greenard trade makes sense on all fronts.
1. Washington Commanders
A man named Dylan Thompson served as the Texans’ director of team development from 2021 to 2023 — he witnessed Greenard’s rise to power with a front-row seat. Thompson is now the Commanders’ senior director of team support and advancement.
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What’s more, Minnesota’s defensive secondary coach from the last few years, Daronte Jones, is Washington’s new defensive coordinator. This is a recent and blunt-force player-coach connection.
Minnesota Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones watches from the sideline as his unit prepares between snaps during the NFC Wild Card contest at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, with the postseason game taking place on Jan. 13, 2025, against the Los Angeles Rams. The scene reflects the tension and preparation during a critical playoff matchup. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
The Commanders, at the moment, arguably has the league’s worst EDGE corps. They have basically nobody.
By leaps and bounds, Greenard landing in Washington, if traded by Minnesota, checks all boxes. The Commanders have over $70 million in cap space.
This September, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will collide for a second time in a professional bout. Super-welterweight star Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis believes that the judges will not be required.
After years of back-and-forth, Mayweather and Pacquiao finally squared off in 2015, where Mayweather scored a unanimous decision win – a legacy-defining moment in the career of one of boxing’s pound-for-pound greats.
The Michigan mastermind fought just twice more as a professional, but he has kept busy in a number of exhibition bouts. Pacquiao went on to fight until 2021, before his comeback against Mario Barrios last July.
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Now, in a surprising turn of events, Mayweather is set to end nine years of professional inactivity and return to the sport at the age of 49 years old, as he seeks to defeat ‘Pac Man’ for a second time in what will be his third outing of the 2026 calendar.
Speaking to YSM Sports Media ahead of the rematch, former unified welterweight ruler, Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, revealed that he is predicting a stoppage win for Mayweather, who has not halted a recognised professional boxer since Victor Ortiz in 2011.
“He is older now, he ain’t going to be too much moving. He is going to be sharp and he is going to make Pacquiao run into something, watch … [The KO] is a possibility, I ain’t even gonna lie. I can see him catching Pacquiao.”
Mayweather-Pacquiao II is scheduled to take place at The Sphere in Las Vegas on Saturday, September 19, with the Netflix-streamed event expected to be one of the most viewed boxing cards in some time.
Harry Brook believes England’s tight-knit unit and a fierce competitive spirit can carry them to T20 World Cup glory rather than the pursuit of perfection.
England have been behind the eight-ball in all seven matches in the tournament but they have remarkably won six of them to set up a blockbuster semi-final against co-hosts India in Mumbai on Thursday night.
Captain Brook has hailed his team’s togetherness, as well as their ultra-ambitious natures as elite sportsmen, for getting them this far, insisting that trumps putting in a complete performance.
“I don’t believe we need a perfect game to win the competition,” Brook said. “I feel like it’s round the corner but the games we have won have been nowhere near perfect and we’ve managed to get the wins.
“The unity and the belief in each other and the belief that we can win games when we do get into those pressure situations, and the calmness that we’ve had, has been outstanding. This team is awesome.
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“Everybody wants to win. But even when we’re playing golf, playing cards, whatever, everybody is always really competitive and they always have that slight edge and they take it out into the cricket.”
England did not name their XI on Wednesday, although fast bowling all-rounder Jamie Overton is expected to return ahead of spin-bowling alternative Rehan Ahmed, who starred last time out against New Zealand.
Back in Mumbai after three successive wins in Sri Lanka, England could again face mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who took 14 wickets in five matches during India’s 4-1 T20 series triumph last year.
Varun dismissed Brook on three occasions but the Yorkshireman bristled at suggestions England struggle against spin, arguing six T20 wins in Sri Lanka this year is ample evidence to reject that idea.
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“I feel like England always get a bad rap for playing against spin,” Brook said. “We accepted that before coming into this competition, we were going to face challenges on pitches that can assist spin.
“But we’ve gone to Sri Lanka and we’ve won six games in a row against a subcontinent side who are very good in their own backyard. We’ve got a lot of confidence playing on turning pitches.”
Brook was similarly bullish about hopelessly out-of-form opener Jos Buttler, who has amassed just 15 runs in his last five innings and possesses a meagre tournament average of 8.85.
“You don’t have to talk to him too much,” Brook said. “Leaving him alone is probably the best thing to do. He’s been a powerhouse cricketer for many years as we’ve all seen.
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“I’ve been asked this question 1,000 times and I think there should be no reason to question why he’s in the team.”
As well as facing the defending champions, who are favourites to become the first side to successfully defend their crown, England will also have to contend with a partisan 33,000 Wankhede Stadium crowd.
But Brook, who like many of his England team-mates has experienced the animated atmospheres of many Indian Premier League grounds in recent years, has urged his side to embrace the occasion.
“It’s a dream come true for most of us to play in a World Cup semi-final against the home nation at a very iconic ground,” Brook added.
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“We wouldn’t say we are underdogs. It would be stupid of us to not be confident. They are probably the favourites but we’re going to go out there and give it a hell of a crack.”
