Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn are set to collide in three weeks’ time, but there is one reigning world champion who claims that both men have swerved him.

Benn tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug named Clomifene ahead of a grudge match with Chris Eubank Jr in September 2022, which was cancelled as a result.

Against Garcia, ‘The Destroyer’ will appear as a welterweight for the first time since failing that drugs test, but he has revealed that he will not remain at 147lbs regardless of the outcome.

Meanwhile, Ostarine was found in Garcia’s system after a career-best win over Devin Haney in April 2024, but after a one-year ban, the Californian returned in an unsuccessful challenge for the vacant WBA welterweight title, losing a unanimous decision to Rolando Romero. 

Garcia then secured a second consecutive world title bid and finally got his hands on world honours when he dethroned Mario Barrios earlier this year to claim the WBC welterweight world title, with Benn lined up for his attempted first defence next month.

Speaking to Fight Hub TV, when asked to predict the fight, former ‘King Ry’ foe Romero refused to offer his thoughts, instead labelling both men as ‘juice heads’ and declaring that both men ducked him. 

“Two juice heads.”

“I don’t care about that [fight], they both ducked me.”

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When asked why he believes neither man wishes to face him, Romero stated his belief that his punch power is too much for either of Garcia or Benn to accept the fight.

“I punch hard, I could end your whole career with one punch.”

Whilst Garcia-Benn takes place next month, Romero faces Teofimo Lopez on Saturday as he looks to defend his welterweight crown for the first time since trumping Garcia 15 months ago.

Man Utd captain Bruno Fernandes has attracted interest from Turkish club Galatasaray in the final weeks of the transfer window.

Manchester United will not entertain any offer for Bruno Fernandes in the final two weeks of the summer transfer window.

Galatasaray are interested in luring Fernandes to Turkey – where a favourable tax rate for top-flight players is on offer – but United are not prepared to consider offers for their captain.

Club sources have gone as far as to say Fernandes is not available for any price this summer.

Fernandes won a fifth Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award for his performances last season, and he broke the Premier League assist record on the final day of a superb individual campaign.

Fernandes rejected an approach from Saudi Arabia club Al-Hilal in favour of staying at United last year. However, he made headlines in December when he suggested United wanted him to join Al-Hilal.

The Portugal international previously said during a sit-down with Manchester-based reporters in October that the club had echoed Ruben Amorim’s desire for him to stay.

United sources were also adamant that Fernandes had been informed he was key to the club’s future plans.

A few months ago, Fernandes discussed how “special” it would be to lead United to glory again after over a decade’s wait for the Premier League title, and he is understood to be settled in England.

Fernandes’ contract runs until the summer of 2027, but United have the option of another year.

Inspired by Harmanpreet Kaur and her women’s cricket team, who created history by winning the ODI World Cup last year, veteran striker Navneet Kaur wants the Indian hockey team to script a similar title-winning story at the FIH Women’s World Cup.

India, ranked ninth in the world, began its campaign with a fighting 2-2 draw against Paris Olympic silver medallist and world No. 4 China.

They next face 18th-ranked South Africa on Tuesday. The Indian women’s cricket team’s triumph over South Africa in the final last year, which earned them their maiden ODI World Cup title, has inspired women athletes across the country, Navneet believes.

“Everyone now knows the players of our women’s cricket team, which they didn’t know as much before. As women players, it’s an inspiration for us. If that team can play so well at this level, why can’t we?” Navneet told PTI in an exclusive interview.

“Playing at the world level and winning a title by performing at your best is a huge thing, and we too would like to achieve this feat in hockey,” added the 30-year-old, who has scored 70 goals in 211 appearances for India.

Navneet has been in fine form this year, scoring four goals each in the FIH Nations Cup and the World Cup qualifiers. She believes she is in the best phase of her career and is keen to carry that momentum into the showpiece event.

“I’m confident because I’ve been playing for a long time and the team’s preparation has been good. I have performed well in all the tournaments I’ve played this year and I’d like to maintain that momentum in the World Cup,” she said.

Having made her World Cup debut in London in 2018, Navneet is now one of the senior-most members of the side and sees her role as more than just scoring goals.

“When I joined the team, I was a junior player, and the environment was different. Back then, I constantly tried to learn from the coaches and senior players, but now my role has changed because I’m a senior myself,” she said.

“Now I know how I progressed and how I can help the junior players.” 

 
This is Navneet’s third World Cup, and she feels the experience of playing more than 200 international matches has brought maturity to her game.

“There’s responsibility, but I know how to handle it. This is my third World Cup. When I played my first World Cup, I had no idea what the experience would be like. I performed well in the second, but now, after playing over 200 matches, I’ve matured and know exactly what to do,” she said.

Navneet, who has been part of the senior team since 2017, also stressed the importance of evolving beyond technical skills.

“Initially, I focused solely on hockey skills, but gradually I realised that playing smart hockey and paying attention to fitness are also important. Now, I’m working hard on that,” she said.

With 11 players in the current squad featuring in their first World Cup, Navneet has taken on the role of guiding the newcomers.

“I keep telling them that when we first played, we didn’t know much about the experience or how the teams play. But playing together, we have seen the skills in you that a world-class player should have. Just believe in yourself,” she said.

“There will be pressure because it’s a huge tournament, but you can talk to your seniors or coaches, who will tell you to do only what you’re told. You don’t have to do anything extra,” she added.

Navneet feels the current team and its preparation are different from those of the side that finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics, with a greater blend of youth and experience.

“There were a lot of senior players in the team at that time, but this team has a lot of junior players. Regarding preparation, it was a different environment then due to COVID-19. We spent more time together and practised by playing as much as possible among ourselves,” she said.

The Nations Cup and World Cup qualifiers have, however, provided the youngsters with valuable exposure ahead of the World Cup.

“They are playing well, and our coordination with them has been excellent, so the performance will be excellent,” she said.

For now, Navneet insists the team’s focus is firmly on the World Cup, with next month’s Asian Games taking a back seat.

“The Asian Games are also important, but right now we are playing the World Cup, so we have to focus on that. This is also a very big tournament and the confidence we gain by playing well here will be taken to the Asian Games,” she said.

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan celebrates after a match against Magdalena Frech of Poland on day seven of the Cincinnati Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 17, 2026 in Mason, Ohio. Emilee Chinn/Getty Images/AFP

Elena Rybakina needed two hours on court plus two one-hour rain interruptions to defeat Magdalena Frech 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) on Monday and reach the fourth round of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters.

The second-seeded Kazakh admitted she struggled to close out a match which dragged on for much of the afternoon.

The players were forced off court after nine games of the first set and again in the seventh game of the second.

READ: Iga Swiatek rolls past Elena Rybakina for Canadian Open title

Upon the second return at the start of a week when rain is repeatedly forecast, two-time Grand Slam champion Rybakina was unable to wrap it up on three match points against the Frech serve in the 12th game.

With the Pole holding serve, the match went to a tie-breaker, where the seed finally got the job done on her fourth chance to get off court barely 10 minutes before more weather arrived.

“It was a crazy day, to be honest, coming out every time into clouds and humidity,” Rybakina said. “I felt that I was on top of the ball in the tie-break, but it was a difficult one.

“I had the opportunities on the three match points but when you are tired it’s difficult to keep concentration.

“I’m happy the tiebreak went my way, I just tried to win as many points as I could.”

Former world number one and defending champion Iga Swiatek was able to go through hours before the poor weather, turning the tables after losing the first set to defeat Maria Sakkari 4-6, 6-1, 6-1.

The Polish seventh seed, who won the Toronto title last week, improved to 6-4 over her Greek opponent, heading to the changing rooms after dropping the first set and returning as if another player.

Swiatek, winner of six Grand Slam titles including the US Open four years ago, only lost two more games after her remarkable turnaround.

The seventh seed needed two hours to complete her reversal in form, saving seven of eight break points while breaking Sakkari five times. The Greek hit the net with a return on Swiatek’s first match point.

‘Lacked precision’

“It’s hard to analyze this match,” Swiatek said. “I was playing good in the first set but I lacked precision, I was playing too much to her.

“After that I wanted to push her and not give so many opportunities. I’m happy it started working in the second set I played a bit better.

“She made mistakes and the momentum changed a little bit.”

Swiatek moved into a match against Diane Parry, winner of an all-French battle with Lois Boisson 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

In the men’s draw, Thiago Tirante maintained his pace after ousting Novak Djokovic in the second round with the Argentine advancing past Spain’s Martin Landaluce 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4) to reach the third Masters round of 16 in his career.

Roland Garros finalist Flavio Cobolli came from a break down in the deciding set to defeat Alexander Blockx 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 and avenge a loss to the Belgian in Monte Carlo.

Kyle Walker accused Pep Guardiola of picking on him and blaming him for everything in a dressing-room row as their relationship as Manchester City captain and manager broke down.

And Guardiola told Walker he did not understand and to accept more responsibility as skipper of the side during City’s awful autumn of 2024.

City’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in December 2024 came during a spell of nine losses in 12 games, the worst run of Guardiola’s career.

And he turned on right-back Walker in an argument after the match, saying: “You don’t understand, Kyle.”

Walker replied: “Pep, you keep saying my name, every meeting in every f***ing thing. Every f***ing meeting it’s my name.”

In the argument, shown in Prime Video’s forthcoming documentary A Beautiful Obsession, Guardiola responded: “Maybe it’s because you are captain.”

The Catalan is also seen warning Walker about balls over the City defence at half-time in the Manchester derby in the same month – and before one led to a Manchester United winner.

Walker only played three more games for City before telling Guardiola he wanted to look for a move abroad.

He joined AC Milan on loan for the rest of the 2024-25 season before getting a permanent deal to Burnley last summer.

Whereas Walker had been elected City captain by his teammates, Guardiola appointed Bernardo Silva as skipper in the summer of 2025.

:: A Beautiful Obsession launches exclusively on Prime Video in UK & Ireland 19 August 2026

A clue was caught on camera. Would the interviewee be Manchester City manager in five or six years? “Absolutely not,” smiled Pep Guardiola. He proved true to his word. But, in Prime Video’s A Beautiful Obsession, a last glimpse into the City dressing room in the Catalan’s reign revealed some unexpected sights: City losing every week, Guardiola emotional and befuddled by the loss of his powers. It became a time of farewells, some bitter, some sad, some sudden, some drawn out.

In particular, there is the breakdown of Guardiola’s relationship with Kyle Walker, manager finding his captain culpable for goals, the right-back feeling it was wrong to blame him. “You don’t understand, Kyle,” exclaimed an exasperated Guardiola after the December 2024 loss at Anfield. “You keep saying my name, every meeting in every f****** thing. Every f****** meeting, it’s my name,” replied the defender.

Two weeks later, in the Manchester derby, Guardiola warned Walker at half-time to be wary of balls over the City defence. One then led to Amad Diallo’s winner for Manchester United. Walker only played three more times before his City career came to an abrupt end, the right-back eyeing a move abroad, his manager omitting him.

There are other images of everything falling apart. The injured Rodri sat in the dressing room in a hoodie with the slogan “the Untouchables” after City slid to another loss; or Kevin De Bruyne, after the 4-0 home demolition by Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs, walking in and saying “f****** soft, guys”.

Central to it all, there is Guardiola, confounded by the sight of an all-conquering side in relegation form. “If I am the problem, you have to tell me,” he begged his players, voice welling up. After another game, he said: “Make me feel you are here, f****** hell, it is a f****** good team, a f****** good club. Now we have to do more because we are in a mess.” Strangest of all, perhaps, comes after defeat to Juventus when he tells his players he still loves his ex-wife but the passion between them is gone; whether Cristina Serra hoped that such details would be revealed in team-talks is sadly unrecorded.

All of which nevertheless is a welcome antidote to some of the more sanitised footballing documentaries, particularly those produced by City themselves chronicling their successes. But Kevin MacDonald, director of The Last King Of Scotland, understood there is something more interesting in watching the serial winner lose. City tasted victory in 33 games of the 2024-25 season and 30 of them are not featured. The first episode draws heavily on City’s autumnal meltdown of nine defeats in 12. The four episodes, it should be noted, contain no mention of City’s 115 charges; although, perhaps, because nothing changes.

But there are plenty of other developments. Characters are written out of the drama brutally; but some with more regret. “It kills me,” Guardiola said of the decision to release De Bruyne at the end of his contract. Chief executive Ferran Soriano added: “Kevin spoke to Pep and he understood the message but was sad about it. He really doesn’t want to go.” The midfielder goes further than before in underlining that, partly for family reasons, he wanted to stay.

The task of rebuilding City occupies much of the club’s attention. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak admits that the club did too little in the transfer market during the summer of 2024, an approach Guardiola had then endorsed. “We paid a price,” he said.

They paid in a different way afterwards: by buying more players. The challenge of replacing De Bruyne is documented. City ran 43 metrics on their software to look at prospective signings, to find No 10s with a similar profile. They alighted on Rayan Cherki, despite concerns about his character. “The information on Cherki was not so positive,” said sporting director Hugo Viana. “There was this idea he was chaotic.” Viana and his predecessor Txiki Begiristain investigated, saying the only negative reference they got about the Frenchman came when he was young, and Guardiola spoke to the playmaker on a video call to persuade him to sign.

Even with Cherki, however, City’s own AI quality index only rated them third favourites to win the Premier League last season. The software picked Arsenal; the computer turned out to be correct.

It proved Guardiola’s final year. “I had energy that I will not have any more,” he admitted in his belated explanation to his players. Even before then, there are a couple of clips which set up the ending and, indeed mean Guardiola was considering quitting even around the time in November 2024 when he signed his last contract.

“To lose five six seven in a row, that doesn’t happen to me,” he said. “I said to the club, ‘maybe it’s over’.”

It wasn’t yet but Al Mubarak was accustomed to his manager contemplating his own departure. “Pep was the boy who cried wolf,” he said. And eventually City reached the point where “this time he is actually the wolf” and where, former director of football Txiki Begiristain felt, Guardiola had to discover what comes next. “He needs rest and he needs to see there is a life after football,” said his former Barcelona teammate. “If he knows only football and football people, he will be on the same rollercoaster he has been living.” Sage advice, perhaps particularly as another recent documentary showed the rival who never found that other life: Jose Mourinho.

:: A Beautiful Obsession launches exclusively on Prime Video in UK & Ireland 19 August 2026

Ayush Shetty produced one of the biggest wins of his young career, stunning world No. 1 Shi Yu Qi in a pulsating three-game contest at the BWF World Championships.

Playing against the top-ranked Chinese shuttler in first round,  21-year-old Shetty displayed remarkable composure throughout the deciding game to prevail 21-14, 13-21, 21-19 and send the Indian crowd into raptures.

Shetty dominates first game

Shetty made an impressive start against the heavily favoured Chinese opponent, taking an 11-5 lead in the opening game. The Indian showed confidence during the extended rallies and repeatedly forced Shi into errors.

Shi appeared frustrated as the game progressed, frequently expressing his disappointment after losing points. Shetty, meanwhile, continued to attack and made excellent use of his smashes, particularly when forced into awkward positions.

The Chinese star did produce some spectacular attacking shots of his own, finding gaps on Shetty’s left side that even the diving Indian struggled to cover. But Shetty held his nerve during a tense exchange of smashes late in the game to take the opener 21-14.

Shi Yu Qi responds

The world No. 1 showed why he occupies the top spot in the second game, making a quick start and taking an early two-point advantage. His clever use of drop shots disrupted Shetty’s rhythm and helped him regain control of rallies.

Shetty continued to fight through long exchanges and produced several impressive winners from difficult positions. However, Shi entered the interval with a narrow lead and maintained his advantage after the break.

The Chinese shuttler looked far more composed than he had in the opening game and eventually levelled the contest by taking Game 2, 21-13.

Shetty keeps his nerve in decider

The deciding game began with both players showing signs of fatigue, but Shetty delivered a spectacular smash at 2-2 that electrified the home crowd and appeared to shift the momentum in his favour.

The Indian quickly established a five-point advantage, capitalising on several errors from Shi around the net. Shetty also continued to dominate the longer rallies and reached the interval with a commanding 11-5 lead.

He then moved further ahead with a brilliant run of five consecutive points. At 17-9, however, Shetty required medical attention on court, giving Shi an opportunity to fight his way back.

The Chinese player capitalised on Shetty’s growing fatigue, cutting the deficit to 18-14. Shetty recovered his serve at 19-15 and moved to match point, but Shi refused to surrender and reduced the gap to 20-16.

The drama intensified as Shetty appeared increasingly tired and gifted three successive points to Shi, leaving the score at 20-19.

But the Indian held his nerve when it mattered most. He won the decisive final point to complete a stunning 21-19 victory in the third game and knock the world No. 1 out of the BWF World Championships.

For Shetty, it was a statement victory that underlined his emergence as one of India’s brightest badminton prospects.