Former undisputed champion Antonio Tarver has considered the keys to victory, while also offering a prediction, for both Teofimo Lopez and Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero.

The pair will collide at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena in the early hours of tomorrow morning, with Romero making a first defence of his WBA world title.

He was upgraded to full welterweight champion last year, having claimed the ‘regular’ belt by dropping and unanimously outpointing Ryan Garcia in May 2025.

After that, Rolly had been in talks with Devin Haney and Conor Benn, only to incur over a year of inactivity and agree to face Lopez instead.

Entering their showdown as a slight favourite, ‘The Takeover’ has moved up to 147lbs and is bidding to become a three-weight world champion.

Unlike Romero, though, Lopez is coming off a surprisingly one-sided points defeat to Shakur Stevenson, who dethroned him for the WBO super-lightweight title in January.

It is therefore difficult to predict which version of the 29-year-old will turn up, yet Hall of Famer Tarver has nonetheless told Fight Hub TV that he is backing Lopez.

“[it will be] high volume if Teo looks to win this thing impressively. He’s going to have to let his hands go, and Rolly’s going to have to try and catch him in the mix of all that.

“I don’t think Rolly can outbox Teo round after round; I think Rolly has to do something big – hurt him with something, knock him down and maybe even stop him.

“Smart money [is on Lopez]. It’s difficult to have your way with [Romero]; you have to be somewhat of a real, elite fighter. We still believe Teo, at his best, has those types of attributes.”

Many would agree that a points decision is Lopez’ clearest route to victory, while Romero may need to make use of his power and engineer an inside-the-distance finish.

A 1000m dash at Stakes level has been on the radar for Signature Scent for some time, according to the Ciaron Maher stable.

Despite failing to place in a recent three-year-old event, the stable sees no reason to hesitate in entering the mare in the Group 3 Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at Sandown on Saturday.

A winner on four occasions from eleven starts, the stable considers Saturday’s race as the ideal juncture to test the mare at Stakes level once more.

Jack Turnbull, National Assistant Trainer for Ciaron Maher Racing, pointed out several factors that favour the mare on Saturday.

“The trip is a big plus and she likes soft ground,” Turnbull said. “And she’s had four weeks in between runs this time. We thought she didn’t run to her best last start because we ran her back a bit quick. She was physically fine, but she was first-up off a 10-week let-up and went back (to the races) after two weeks which is a hard thing to do. It’s a bit of a reprieve, four weeks into this. She’s not in great at the weights, but her quality gives her the chance to be competitive.”

Signature Scent was initially purchased for $200,000 at the Australian Easter Yearling Sale, with Yulong subsequently acquiring her for $1 million at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale in 2024.

The mare has a considerable way to go to recoup her purchase price, but a victory on Saturday would be a welcome start.

“Black Type is essential for her,” Turnbull commented. “She’s got a good page, she is Black Type placed, but if she was to be a winner, it would be immense.”

Turnbull indicated that it’s unlikely Signature Scent would race again in two weeks if she performs well on Saturday in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Sandown.

“Especially off the two-week turnaround,” Turnbull stated. “There is the Wylie Handicap in Adelaide on September 12, so if she was to run well, that could be a race we could look at.”

Signature Scent has a prior win at Morphettville and earned a placing in the Listed Redelva Stakes in April.

Ahead of the Carlyon Stakes, the focus is on the racing betting markets available at betting sites.

Titan Ultra Giant Risers in a huddle during a game in the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines–Blowout losses, injuries and the future of its best player marred Titan Ultra’s campaign in the first phase of the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup.

The Giant Risers sit dead last in Group A with a 2-7 record, also the worst win-loss mark among all teams in the season-ending conference as of the ongoing break.

Five of Titan Ultra’s defeats were by at least 30 points, including the last two outings against TNT (114-80) and San Miguel Beer (143-113). The Beermen also handed the Giant Risers their worst loss of the conference by 38 (143-105) earlier this month.

“It’s hard to motivate the team and the players when you’re coming off [a losing streak],” said coach Rensy Bajar during one of Titan Ultra’s victories.

Titan Ultra is also trying to unload two-way star Joshua Munzon, who was almost shipped to TNT for rookie center Joe Celso and a future first-round pick.

Reports, however, said that the Giant Risers balked at the deal after they lost rookie guard Bryan Sajonia to an ACL injury after his right knee buckled during their second encounter with the Beermen.

Sajonia’s injury was the second one after fellow rookie banger Mark Omega had to miss the remainder of the games before the break after a bad fall in the win against Macau.

Titan Ultra dropped its first three games to Terrafirma (113-100), Converge (105-74) and NLEX (135-100) before entering the win column with a shock upset of TNT (103-87).

“I just told the team to just enjoy the game and not think about winning right away,” Bajar said after beating the fancied TNT side that played far from its expected form.

But Titan Ultra would drop the next two to Macau (132-126) and the aforementioned first match with San Miguel, before avenging its loss to the Giant Pandas (132-128).

After receiving a fifth year of eligibility, former Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos has entered the NCAA transfer portal, sources tell CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.

On Friday, a Kentucky judge granted a temporary injunction in an eligibility lawsuit that included Castellanos and former Missouri basketball standout Mark Mitchell. Because Castellanos now has an injunction, he will not be affected by the new ruling in the Colorado lawsuit that took away eligibility for qualified athletes in the class of 2022.

A three-star recruit out of Georgia, Castellanos signed with UCF as a member of the 2022 recruiting class. The following season, Castellanos transferred to Boston College, where he started across two seasons before jumping to Florida State as a senior in 2025.

Last year, Castellanos completed 58.3% of his passes for 2,760 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions while also rushing for 557 yards and nine touchdowns. While Castellanos’ lone season with the Seminoles was turbulent, he led the team to an upset of No. 8 Alabama in Week 1.

Throughout his college career, Castellanos has provided dynamic playmaking with his legs, and he even rushed for 1,113 yards as a sophomore at Boston College. Despite missing spring practice and most of fall camp, Castellanos has already reportedly generated significant interest from at least one Power Four team.

Where will Castellanos land?

Texas Tech has emerged as the most likely landing spot for Castellanos as he looks to continue his college career, according to multiple reports. Given how the quarterback situation has evolved in Lubbock throughout the offseason, landing with the Red Raiders makes plenty of sense for Castellanos.

Texas Tech paid up to land Cincinnati transfer Brendan Sorsby out of the transfer portal, but due to fallout from a gambling scandal, Sorsby will no longer play for the Red Raiders this fall. Will Hammond — very talented in his own right — is now the starter, but he’s coming off a torn ACL he suffered last October.

While the Red Raiders are still fine at the top of the quarterback depth chart, the loss of Sorsby made them much shallower. Sophomore Lloyd Jones III is currently set to back up Hammond, but he’s attempted just five passes at the college level. Castellanos would give Texas Tech more insurance at the most important position on the field.

That’s important because the rest of the Texas Tech roster looks to be a legitimate College Football Playoff threat. The Red Raiders brought in 22 players via the portal, and that class ranked No. 6 nationally, according to 247Sports. Castellanos would help ensure that those title hopes won’t be immediately derailed if Hammond is unable to play.

Australia responded to their nine-wicket defeat in the first Test at Darwin by bowling Bangladesh out for 64 on the opening day of the second and final Test in Mackay on Saturday.

After winning the toss, Australia captain Pat Cummins chose to field and Mitchell Starc made an impact with the first ball. He dismissed Shadman Islam for a duck, registering his ninth first-over wicket in Test cricket and moving past England’s James Anderson, who had eight such dismissals.

Starc then continued his spell, taking five wickets inside the first seven overs as Bangladesh slumped to 12/5. It was the sixth-fastest five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

. Starc took five wickets in the first 45 minutes as the visitors slipped to 12/5 before reaching lunch at 35/6.

Cummins added three wickets for 25 runs as Bangladesh slipped further to 39/9. The visitors, however, managed to avoid their lowest-ever Test total. Their lowest score remains 43 against West Indies in 2018.

Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 64, with Starc finishing with 6/12 from 10 overs.

The spell also took Starc past South African great Dale Steyn’s 439 Test wickets. With 441 wickets, Starc is now the 10th-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. He has taken 19 five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket match hauls, with best figures of 7/58.

For Bangladesh, the collapse came after Australia had been beaten by nine wickets in Darwin in the opening Test. The second Test therefore began with Australia in control and Bangladesh under pressure with the bat.

Argentina’s defeat in the football World Cup final defeat has come with a costly post-match hangover. FIFA has imposed a ban on Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes and a hefty fine for sparking a brawl after his side’s loss to Spain. His teammate Nahuel Molina has been similarly disciplined in a series of a decisions by the FIFA disciplinary committee. Story by Nick Rushworth.

Saturday is Sky Bet Ebor Day at York, with the one mile five furlongs and 188 yards race the feature of a seven-race card.

Love Me Tender, a German purchase for Willie Mullins, heads the market for the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap, as the Closutton handler bids to win this race for the third time in four years. The four-year-old, who hasn’t run for almost 300 days, will be the mount of William Buick, and is in the same ownership as last year’s winner, Ethical Diamond.

Galway maiden hurdle winner, Mr Hollywood, is another Closutton representative and the third-place finisher in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at Royal Ascot will have the assistance of Saffie Osborne.

Colin Keane, Andrew Balding and Juddmonte have all had a very successful week at York, and they could have another win here with Tarriance. A previous course and distance winner, the four-year-old gelding had a nice prep race for the Ebor when fourth at Goodwood 21 days ago.

Ryan Moore is booked to ride Emit for Joseph O’Brien. Fourth in the Duke Of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot in June, the English jockey maintains his partnership with the bay son of Too Darn Hot. This is significant as Moore has often ridden for Willie Mullins in many of the major staying races in Britain. Choosing to remain loyal to the Flaxman Stables Ireland Ltd gelding should not be overlooked.

Poetic Sound will represent Ger Lyons. The five-year-old son of Poet’s Word will wear blinkers for the first time, and he will be ridden by Gary Carroll.

The final Irish runner is the Henry De Bromhead-trained Ascending. He was runner-up to Ethical Diamond in the Sky Bet Ebor last season and had previously won the Ascot Stakes over two-and-a-half miles. The mount of Oisín Orr might look a decent each-way bet at around 20/1.

Sky Bet City Of York Stakes

There also the Group 1 Sky Bet City Of York Stakes on Saturday with 14 runners going to post.

Puerto Rico and Power Blue will represent Aidan O’Brien and Robson Aguair respectively, but the 2024 Betfred 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes winner, Notable Speech, will be all the rage to give Charlie Appleby a winner. Incredibly, the Godolphin trainer hasn’t had a runner during the first three days of the four-day meeting.

The Queen Anne Stakes winner at Ascot, Ten Bob Tony, the mount of Kieran Shoemark, was only two-and-three-quarter lengths behind Bow Echo in the Sussex Stakes, so should be involved here, while the Group 2 Lennox Stakes winner, Lake Forest, should also come into the reckoning.

Irish-trained runner at York on Saturday:

1.50 Sky Bet Strensall Stakes (Group 3)

Expanded (IRE) A P O’Brien
Geryon (IRE) G M Lyons

2.25 Sky Bet Melrose Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)

Limestone (IRE) Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Sharkeyboy (FR) W P Mullins
Bay Of Stars (GB) D K Weld
Vantage Code (IRE) Emmet Mullins

3.00 Sky Bet City Of York Stakes (Group 1)

Power Blue (IRE) Robson Aguiar
Puerto Rico (IRE) A P O’Brien

3.35 Sky Bet Ebor Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)

Mr Hollywood (IRE) W P Mullins
Emit (IRE) Joseph Patrick O’Brien
Poetic Sound (IRE) G M Lyons
Ascending (IRE) Henry De Bromhead
Love Me Tender (GER) W P Mullins

4.45 Julia Graves Roses Stakes (Listed)

Hanney Boy (IRE) Miss E McCutcheon

5.20 Sky Bet Dav Reid Finale Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (GBBPlus Race)

Diego El Queso (IRE) G M Lyons

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