Roy Jones Jr has assessed Rico Verhoeven’s chances of winning a major title, picturing a scenario where he ends up facing Anthony Joshua for some version of the heavyweight championship.

The former long-reigning kickboxing champion was supposed to collide with ‘AJ’ earlier this year, only to instead secure a world title opportunity against Oleksandr Usyk.

This was only his second professional boxing match, yet Verhoeven nonetheless gave a tremendous account of himself last month, somehow managing to take Usyk into round 11.

It then came as a controversial result when Verhoeven was stopped on his feet following a heavy knockdown, with referee Mark Lyson waving him off after the bell had sounded.

At that point, the Dutchman had built a slight lead on one of the judges’ scorecards, making a mockery of the pre-fight betting odds while earning himself a No.8 ranking with the WBC.

Verhoeven could therefore find himself in another heavyweight title fight before long, but will he enjoy the same success that he did against Usyk?

Speaking with BettingLounge, Hall of Famer Jones suggested that a hard-hitting opponent like Joshua, for instance, is likely to pose greater problems than Usyk.

“Can Rico win a world title? You’ve got to remember, styles make fights. To me, Usyk has never been the most explosive puncher, but he is a brilliant boxer.

“Tyson Fury has never been the most explosive puncher, but he is a brilliant boxer as well. But guys like [Daniel] Dubois, Joshua, Moses [Itauma] – these guys can punch. So they’re going to find out what [Verhoeven] can take.

“I’m not going to just guarantee that he can win a title, because different styles make different fights.”

Another point to consider is that, while Verhoeven represented unfamiliar territory for Usyk, opponents can now use 11 rounds of footage to analyse his style.

Joshua could also seek additional intel from Usyk, given that he now shares a gym with the 39-year-old Ukrainian.

US fans react after the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

The early results are in: This U.S men’s national team is for real in this World Cup.

With a quick and creative offensive attack producing goals in front of stadium-shaking home crowds, the Americans have already won their group and booked their place in the knockout round. A final group stage match against Turkey in Los Angeles awaits before the pressure ramps up again.

The question now is just how far can they go? The optimism and expectations of a deep run in the tournament are rising quickly.

READ: World Cup: US reaches KO round with 2-0 win over Australia

The American players seem eager to embrace what might have seemed inconceivable for a big nation with a relatively shallow pedigree in international soccer.

“I don’t think it’s ridiculous to say that we want to win it,” U.S. defender Chris Richards said after Friday’s 2-0 win over Australia. “We want to lift a trophy by the end of this.”

Few would have predicted this kind of quick success, said striker Folarin Balogun, who scored twice in the opener against Paraguay.

“You know, (if) someone said before the tournament ‘Two games and you’re through to the knockouts,’ I think we all would have took it,” Balogun said. “We’re delighted.”

Argentine coach leads the American resurgence

The first two matches saw the U.S. attack Paraguay and Australia with an energy, skill and creativity on offense rarely seen by the Americans in the World Cup.

READ: World Cup 2026: How are the favorites shaping up?

The U.S. has won consecutive World Cup matches for the first time since 1930. And the six goals in the first two matches are one short of the team record for a World Cup.

The architect is coach Mauricio Pochettino, an Argentine who was best known for his European club stints with Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-German. He had never coached a national team until he was hired by the U.S. in 2024 with an eye on this year’s World Cup.

As a co-host, the U.S. was an automatic qualifier for the tournament, allowing Pochettino more time to experiment and craft the lineup he wanted. He was blunt earlier this month when he said the U.S. does not have any players that rank among the top 100 in the world.

But the lineup he has put on the field the first two matches has been rock solid and maybe even better than expected. The players credit him with instilling a tougher, more resilient mindset.

Pochettino said after the win over Australia, he could feel the fan support reverberating throughout the stadium in Seattle.

“Today, even if I’m not American, after the game I was emotional,” Pochettino said. “It was an amazing and perfect connection between the energy from the stands and the team. This makes us feel very proud.”

Questions remain about U.S. star player Pulisic

Because the U.S. has already won its group, Pochettino could experiment with his lineup for the match with Turkey on June 25. And it could provide extra rest for star midfielder Christian Pulisic, who missed the match with Australia because of a calf injury.

Pulisic, who plays for AC Milan, is considered the United States’ best player, but his absence also allowed the U.S. to show off some depth in the lineup.

With Pulisic out, Pochettino started striker Ricardo Pepi, and Pepi combined with Balogun on the run that created the first goal of the match in the 11th minute.

“We know how vital Christian is to the team and how much he can contribute in the game,” said Alex Freeman, who scored the second goal against Australia. “For us it was, we have Ricardo Pepi, who came in and had an amazing game. I think that just shows how (good) our roster is.”

Still, the U.S. will want Pulisic’s steady hand and creative playmaking as they get deeper in the tournament.

He has scored 33 goals in 87 international appearances, including the game winner against Iran in the 2022 World Cup that sent the U.S. to the round of 16.

History of home nations

The U.S. will enjoy the home support for as far as they can go in the tournament. It can be considerable.

The U.S. is co-host of the tournament with Canada and Mexico. Since 1930, the host nation has won the World Cup six times, most recently France in 1998.

When Mexico hosted in 1970 and 1986, it reached the quarterfinals both times. In 2002, co-host South Korea reached the semifinals. Host Russia reached the quarterfinals in 2018.

The U.S. finished third in the inaugural World Cup in Uruguay in 1930. Its best finish in the modern era of soccer was the quarterfinals in 2002.

When the U.S. hosted the World Cup in 1994, the underdog Americans played in front of huge crowds and slugged their way through the group stage before being eliminated by Brazil.

Back then, just reaching the knockout round was the goal and a huge achievement for a group of players that punched above their weight.

The expectations this time are for much more, and growing with every goal in the back of the net.

“I think people can see what we’re capable of as a team,” Pepi said.

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Golf is a funny game. We all know it. You don’t need a reminder from this writer. But how about when he says it?

“Golf is such a funny game. A good example this week, if I finish second this week, it’s almost like, Hey, you failed in your first chance to win the career Grand Slam. It’s kind of, like, is finishing second a failure?”

That was Scottie Scheffler, of course. He said it four days ago, seated inside a white tent at Shinnecock Hills, squarely in front of a camera, beaming out a specific Scottie brand of perspective to the world. But does he feel the same way right now?

Probably not. We’re in the throes of battle now, made clear by that scream and fist-pump he unleashed on the 14th hole. He thought the tournament was slipping away, but chipped in for a miraculous birdie. You can bet he’s stewing about the 4-footer he missed on 18 — it would

only be human — which would have brought him one stroke closer to the top of the leaderboard. Instead, he’s six shots back. A few guys have a puncher’s chance, but he has the longest arms. 

The point of this exercise is that moods change as context changes. It was 336 days ago when he was asked for the first time about the career Grand Slam, just hours after winning the Open Championship. He laughed it off and reminded us, the people who really, really care about these things, that he is one of the few who doesn’t. 

On Tuesday, it felt like much the same as he delivered that line about second place and failure — quintessential Scheffler, reminding us to embrace the journey, to stop and smell the roses. But he followed it in a curious way, saying second is not always that bad… “But man, does it frickin’ hurt at the same time.”

The point where it can frickin’ hurt is officially here, rising from a low heat early in the week to an eerie boil. From 49th on Thursday night to 11th on Friday night to 2nd on Saturday. Scheffler may seem ultimately destined for the grand slam, but a number of people have gotten this close. It seems to be a coin-flip whether destiny becomes reality.

Scheffler’s new to it, technically speaking. This is his first try at the final leg. He knows he will have more. But he also knows how many second-place finishes Phil Mickelson has at the U.S. Open. He may not know that 13 players have three legs of the four, but he does know one of them is his Dallas buddy Jordan Spieth, who has been chasing it for nearly a decade. Every year the quest takes on different meaning, altered. Scheffler had the honor of putting the green jacket on Rory McIlroy at the 2025 Masters, the tears of relief following McIlroy’s own decade-long pursuit still drying on his freckly cheeks. 

“I think it’s appropriate to understand what’s at stake,” Scheffler said, admitting in the most coy way that he’s finally thought about what could be an impossibly epic Scottie Day. The best golfer in the world will rise Sunday morning to the new reality that his 20s are officially behind him. Sunday is his 30th birthday. He’ll spend a few hours with his young children, for it is also Father’s Day and there are many hours before the final pairing.

Once the emotions of all that settles, a telling moment will arrive. It might come on the front nine, the 7th hole, the tempestuous par-3 11th or, if we’re lucky, the closing stretch. It might last 30 seconds, 30 minutes or maybe even longer. He’ll have a reason to think the thing that everyone else is thinking right now: the slam is possible. 

The reason why?

Golf is a funny game. 

A planned tilt at the Ipswich Cup, for which Golden Path was well-supported in the market, has been shelved by co-trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, who have instead opted for a Sydney sojourn this Saturday.

The six-year-old is among the acceptors for the Listed WJ McKell Cup (2000m) at Rosehill, aiming to replicate his 2024 performance when he won the race.

“It was too difficult from barrier 15 of 15 in the Ipswich Cup,” Kent Jnr commented.

Golden Path has not recorded a victory since September last year, when he won an open handicap at Flemington. However, his record over the subsequent eight starts includes a third in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield and a second in the Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley.

“His problem is that he’s earned himself a fairly high rating without winning anything gangbusters,” he added.

“That group one placing in the Underwood, he’s always going to get top weight in these winter handicaps so it does pose some problems because he hasn’t been able to take that next step.

His latest run saw the gelding take charge into the straight during the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm on May 30, only to be run down late and finish fifth.

“He had to do a lot of work in that race, and he still stuck on with it quite bravely so I think if you have a soft draw and a soft run in transit, then he’d go close.

“Though if he was giving weight to a smart, progressive young stayer then they might be hard to hold out.”

With the WJ McKell Cup on the horizon, racing odds are becoming available at Australian betting sites.

CM Punk has been absent from WWE programming since the RAW after WrestleMania 42. The Second City Saint’s absence has raised many questions, including the status of his contract with the Stamford-based promotion.

Several different rumors have been making the rounds on social media regarding Punk’s future. Some even suggested that he was leaving WWE, but those claims were debunked. It was believed that the veteran’s contract with the global juggernaut would expire in November this year.

However, Fightful Select has put those rumors to rest as well. Punk’s contract is reportedly not expiring this year. The Second City Saint is expected to play a major role at SummerSlam, which means he could return to television soon.

The former World Heavyweight Champion is reportedly set to join SmackDown upon his return, which is interesting, given his last interaction with Cody Rhodes before his hiatus.

AJ Lee praises CM Punk

AJ Lee returned to WWE after a decade in September last year. She was last seen at WrestleMania 42, where she lost the Women’s Intercontinental Championship to Becky Lynch.

Speaking with Maurice Bernard on the State of the Mind podcast, the former Divas Champion praised CM Punk’s physical condition and his WrestleMania 42 main event against Roman Reigns, stating that he was in the best shape of his life.

“He’s in like the best shape of his life right now and was just champion for like most of the year. And had, I mean, I am his wife, so I am a little like biased, but like objectively one of the greatest WrestleMania matches of all time this year, a few months ago. I’m just so impressed with how he is able to push himself and just be the best athlete he can be. He reaches for the moon every time,” said Lee.

CM Punk and AJ Lee formed an alliance on television upon the latter’s return last year. The real-life couple went on to face and defeat Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch in a Mixed Tag Team Match at Wrestlepalooza.

It will be interesting to see when Punk and AJ return to WWE television.