Canelo Alvarez lost the super-middleweight marbles back in September, but the Mexican superstar is eager to win them back when he returns later this year.

Alvarez’s reign was brought to an end by Terence Crawford seven months ago, only for ‘Bud’ to retire soon after and leave the titles fragmented, making the road to becoming a three-time undisputed champion an arduous one for Canelo.

Returning in September, it is expected that the 35-year-old will bounce straight back into a title challenge upon his return, with the WBC route being the most likely target in his comeback fight; where Christian Mbilli now holds the world title.

Meanwhile, the WBA have installed Jose Armando Resendiz as their new super-middleweight titleholder, following his interim title win over Caleb Plant last May. However, the Mexican is scheduled to face countryman and former Canelo opponent, Jaime Munguia, on Saturday, May 2. Last week, Osleys Iglesias picked up the vacant IBF belt.

Finally, the WBO has ordered a vacant title contest between Hamzah Sheeraz and Alem Begic in the co-main event of the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven bill next month.

Canelo remains ranked as the number one contender for the WBO title and, in an interview with The Ring, Sheeraz said that he would relish the opportunity to face the four-division world champion in the near future.

“That fight there, if that fight ever happens, that is down to His Excellency [Turki Al-Alshikh]. If he wants it to happen, it will happen. I would love to share the ring with a great in Canelo and if it happens, it happens.”

Therefore, should an issue arise with his planned WBC title challenge, Canelo could instead opt to pursue a clash with the victor of Sheeraz-Begic later this year, as he attempts an immediate return to the 168lb throne. If he fights and beats Mbilli – no simple task – the prospect of a unification will be there waiting.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Keibert Ruiz singled home two runs to break an eighth-inning tie and the Washington Nationals defeated Milwaukee 8-6 on Sunday to complete their first series sweep of the Brewers in 15 years.

Washington’s last sweep of the Brewers came in April 2011. The Nationals hadn’t swept the Brewers in Milwaukee since June 2006.

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The Nationals recovered after allowing a tying, three-run homer to Gary Sánchez in the seventh.

Brice Turang hit two solo shots and Jake Bauers also went deep for Milwaukee, which has lost five straight for its longest skid since June 2023.

Washington’s James Wood homered for the fourth time in his last seven games.

After the Nationals scored four runs off Milwaukee relievers Abner Uribe and Angel Zerpa (0-1) to take a 6-3 lead in the seventh, the Brewers quickly responded.

Milwaukee had two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the inning when reliever Ken Waldichuk threw a pitch to Turang and immediately started walking around in discomfort. Waldichuk pointed to his elbow while getting checked by athletic trainers on the mound and then headed to the dugout as Cole Henry came out of the bullpen.

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Turang and William Contreras eventually walked. Sánchez then delivered a 400-foot shot into the left-field seats.

Washington bounced back in the eighth.

CJ Abrams and Jacob Young began the inning with singles off Zerpa before both runners advanced on Jorbit Vivas’ sacrifice bunt. Ruiz then greeted Aaron Ashby by grounding a single up the middle through a drawn-in infield.

PJ Poulin (2-0) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the win. Gus Varland retired the side in order in the ninth for his first career save.

Up next

Nationals: Open a four-game series at Pittsburgh. The starting pitchers for Monday’s opener are Washington’s Cade Cavalli (0-0, 2.51 ERA) and Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes (2-1, 5.25).

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Brewers: Start a three-game home series with Toronto on Tuesday. Jacob Misiorowski (1-1, 3.31 ERA) pitches for the Brewers, and Kevin Gausman (0-1, 2.08) starts for the Blue Jays.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Pep Guardiola believes Arsenal are still the best team in England after Manchester City cut the gap at the top of the Premier League to six points with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

City recovered from a slow first half to blow the home side away with three goals in 17 second-half minutes to put real pressure on the league leaders ahead of next Sunday’s meeting between the two sides.

Should Guardiola’s team triumph at the Etihad Stadium they will move to within three points of the Gunners with a game in hand, and they sent a warning in west London that they are not going away in the title race as goals from Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guehi and Jeremy Doku humiliated Liam Rosenior’s Blues.

“We have done a good three games but the best team in England so far is Arsenal, the best team in Europe so far is Arsenal, because the numbers are there, the consistency they had,” said Guardiola.

City – whose supporters sang “are you watching Arsenal” and “we’re Manchester City, we’ll fight to the end” from the Shed End, while one fan was captured on television cameras animatedly miming drinking from an empty Arsenal branded water bottle – look equipped to take the title fight to the wire.

The Gunners’ home defeat by Bournemouth on Saturday had opened the door for City to take charge of their own destiny, and they took full advantage against a Chelsea side which collapsed in the face of more powerful and clinical opposition to leave their own hopes of reaching the Champions League in serious doubt.

Guardiola believes his team’s victory in the Carabao Cup final three weeks ago helped change the face of the title run-in, with City rampant and Arsenal on a run of three losses in four matches ahead of the showdown.

“There isn’t one person in this room when we played at Wembley in the Carabao Cup bet for us one pound,” he said. “We were underdogs. Now it’s a bit different. That’s the mindset we have to work.

“Football is like that. You’re able to have 49 games, lost three games in the last four. Tell me a reason why. This is business.

“I know how difficult. Always a warning has to be there. We have a long week, we’re going to train good, to prepare good. I know perfectly the manager, I know how good he is (at) adjusting things. But at the same time, we play at home with our people.

“I know how tough. To (beat) Arsenal once is so difficult. Forty-nine games they lost three in all competitions. I know how good they are.”

As for Chelsea, the early promise which accompanied Rosenior’s first month in charge has evaporated, leaving in its place the same old doubts over the mental fortitude of this young squad and the club’s general direction under the current ownership.

“I need to win in this moment,” said Rosenior, whose side trail Liverpool by four points in the race for the final Champions League place.

“When I first came, I never asked for a lot of time because I understand this club. I understand the traditions and the history of this club.

“I would like to have that time and I’m confident that in that time, you can create something very, very special within the time that it takes, which even someone as experienced as Pep or Jurgen Klopp when he won the titles he did at Liverpool, they had a year to sort things out. I’ve come in January.

“It’s not an excuse. It’s a reality.”

CM Punk opened up ahead of his title match at WWE WrestleMania 42. The Second City Saint will be defending the World Heavyweight Championship at the PLE next weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In an interview with SHAK Wrestling, CM Punk was asked about headlining WrestleMania for the second year in a row. The veteran noted that it still meant a lot to him to be in the main event of The Show of Shows.

“WrestleMania is and always will be the pinnacle, top-shelf show in pro wrestling. Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, those are the guys that were always talking about and hovering around the main event when I was watching. And I kind of developed that same attitude, like the best guys main event the biggest show, so to do it once was sweet, do it back-to-back years. It’s like being on the cover of the video game for a second time, it’s still a big deal to me,” he said. [H/T: WrestleTalk on X]

You can check out the video below:

Roman Reigns won the Men’s Royal Rumble match earlier this year in Saudi Arabia and will be challenging Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship at WWE WrestleMania 42 next weekend.

Former WWE writer criticizes CM Punk and Roman Reigns’ storyline

Wrestling veteran Vince Russo recently discussed the rivalry between CM Punk and Roman Reigns.

Speaking on Russo’s The Brand, the legend stated that he was sick of hearing Punk cut promos by himself. He wondered where Reigns was and called out The OTC for skipping shows so close to WWE WrestleMania.

“I am so tired of hearing freaking CM Punk’s promos. Like, okay, bro, we get it. I understand. You’re a 60-year-old rebel. I understand. I get it. Like, how many freaking times? And then, maybe I missed something. Where was Roman Reigns yesterday? Where was he? Like, what is Roman Reigns doing that he can’t appear on the show a week before Mania?” Russo said.

The rivalry between Punk and Reigns has become extremely personal. Only time will tell which WWE star walks out of WrestleMania 42 as the reigning World Heavyweight Champion.