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Updated IPL 2026 Points Table: Sunrisers Hyderabad Dethrone Punjab Kings From Top Spot

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Picture from SRH vs PBKS IPL 2026 game.© BCCI




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Heinrich Klaasen (69) and Ishan Kishan (55) made Punjab Kings pay dearly for their sloppy fielding, powering Sunrisers Hyderabad to a handsome 41-run win to jump to the top of the table in the IPL 2026 in Hyderabad on Wednesday. The duo helped in setting a challenging total of 235 for 4 after Punjab Kings opted to bowl. In reply, Punjab Kings were restricted to 202 for seven to succumb to their third loss on the trot and slipped to second spot.

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Cooper Connolly waged a lone battle for PBKS with a brilliant 107 not out from 59 balls (7×4, 8×6) but lacked support from the other end.

For SRH, Pat Cummins (2/34) and Shivang Kumar (2/45) were the main wicket takers.

Earlier, dropped on nine, Klaasen capitalised to smash three fours and four sixes in his 43-ball knock.

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Kishan, who survived two reprieves — a dropped catch and a missed stumping — struck a brisk 32-ball 55, including two fours and four sixes.

For Punjab Kings, Yuzvendra Chahal was the most economical, returning 1/32, but endured a frustrating outing as all the dropped chances and the missed stumping came off his bowling.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)


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Former Floyd Mayweather opponent rejects his undefeated record: “I won that fight”

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Floyd Mayweather’s 50-0 record is one of the most impressive achievements in boxing, with a host of legends unable to overcome him, but there is one former opponent who disagrees with that unbeaten run, believing that he should have got the decision when they fought.

In a 50-fight career, Mayweather rarely got caught clean, with Shane Mosley famously being the only opponent to rock the Michigan slickster, despite facing the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao. It was another man, however, who gave Floyd his closest fight – and one that many in the sport feel he lost.

Speaking to ESNEWS this week, José Luis Castillo reaffirmed his belief that he should have got the decision when he first fought Mayweather in April 2002 – deemed to be the American’s most controversial win.

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Mayweather – defending his WBC lightweight title – boxed much of the bout with an injured left shoulder and was forced to rely heavily on movement and right-hand counters, while Castillo applied constant pressure and enjoyed success to the body.

Many observers felt the Mexican had done enough to win, but Mayweather retained his belt via unanimous decision (116-111, 115-111, 115-111), with the scoring drawing significant controversy and eventually leading to a rematch later that year.

The American would score a more decisive victory, but to this day his initial encounter with ‘El Terrible’ remains his most disputed triumph.

Fast forward to today and it the famous undefeated record could be put at risk in the coming months, with a rematch against Pacquiao announced for September.

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It would have ended a nine-year run of professional inactivity at the age of 49, but the contest has now been put thrown doubt after Mayweather claiming it will instead be an exhibition. Pacquiao’s side disagree, and say binding contracts will ensure the fight goes ahead as announced.

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IPL 2026: ‘Dropped catches cost us’- Shreyas Iyer rues missed chances as PBKS suffer third straight defeat | Cricket News

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IPL 2026: 'Dropped catches cost us'- Shreyas Iyer rues missed chances as PBKS suffer third straight defeat
Punjab Kings’ Skipper Shreyas Iyer (ANI Photo)

Sunrisers Hyderabad produced a dominant performance to beat Punjab Kings and move to the top of the IPL 2026 table, as Heinrich Klaasen and Ishan Kishan capitalised on sloppy fielding to power their side to a strong total before the bowlers sealed control in the chase. Heinrich Klaasen (69) and Ishan Kishan (55) helped Sunrisers Hyderabad reach 235/4 after Punjab Kings opted to bowl. In reply, Punjab Kings were restricted to 202/7 despite a stunning unbeaten century from Cooper Connolly (107*), as SRH’s disciplined bowling ensured they claimed a 41-run win and climbed to the top of the table. For Punjab Kings, it was a third consecutive defeat, with dropped catches proving costly throughout the innings. Klaasen and Kishan both survived early chances before punishing the attack, while SRH’s bowlers, including Pat Cummins and Shivang Kumar, applied constant pressure in the chase. PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer was candid after the loss, pointing to fielding lapses as the key difference between the two sides. “I think it was a bit too much (the target) because we dropped many catches at the start and we could have easily delayed their score by 30 to 40 runs, I guess. Because the wicket kept getting slower and the cutters were holding up a bit. So we weren’t that comprehensive enough on the field, nor in bowling, nor in batting. So I think they played comprehensive cricket and they showed us how to win the match.” Reflecting on his team’s recent slump after a strong start to the season, he added: “I feel we got a fairy tale start in this tournament and everyone were in a great space and the mindset was top notch. I think it’s important that we stick with the same mindset. It’s easy to get diverted with talking negative about things. But definitely we got to go back, reflect on things that we didn’t do well in the particular last three matches and see to it that we come back strong.” Iyer also praised the fighting spirit of Cooper Connolly, who kept PBKS in the contest almost single-handedly: “He’s phenomenal (Connolly). His mindset is top notch and the character he brings onto the field. It’s something that all players can learn from him. And apart from that, I feel that he’s got a knack of scoring big runs in pressure situations. He has done it in the past and today was the right example. He was fearless and his attitude was fantastic against left-handers (Chahal).” He further admitted that fielding errors changed the course of the game: “I asked him to be attacking, especially when the new batsmen were in because they were on the charge right from ball one. And it was crucial to get wickets at that point of time. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to take catches. I think that was the biggest setback for us in today’s game. But definitely something to reflect on and come back stronger.”

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Matthew Boyd injury: Cubs lefty hurts knee playing with his kids, needs surgery

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Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd needs to undergo surgery on his left knee to repair a meniscus injury, manager Craig Counsell told reporters Wednesday. The injury happened when Boyd was sitting down to play with his kids, Counsell said

The initial takeaway is that this inducts Boyd into the unfortunate injury Hall of Fame. Francisco Liriano suffering a broken arm while trying to scare his kids at Christmas is up there and I can never shake Jeremy Affeldt slicing his hand open while trying to separate frozen hamburger patties at a cookout. There was once a violent Sammy Sosa sneeze and, of course, who could forget the Glenallen Hill/spider incident?

On the field, this one really hurts the Cubs, at least in terms of depth. Boyd hasn’t been good at all so far this season. He’s pitched to a 6.00 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 24 innings. The big problem is that he was likely to get better moving forward, and now the Cubs’ depth has been depleted. 

Remember, Cade Horton is out for the season and Justin Steele suffered a setback in his attempted return from Tommy John surgery. The Cubs entered the season with eight viable starters, but until Boyd — or Steele, if he somehow is back before Boyd — returns, the number is now just five. 

It looks like the Cubs will have little margin for error in the rotation now with Shota Imanaga, Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, Colin Rea and Javier Assad. Ben Brown is too valuable at this point in his bullpen role to change jobs again and the top minor-league option, Jaxon Wiggins, is currently injured.   

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To this point, the Cubs have weathered the proverbial storm. They rank ninth in the majors with a 3.90 rotation ERA and entered play Wednesday within arm’s length of the best record in baseball at 24-12. It’s actually tied for the second-best start in club history, trailing only the World Series champion 2016 Cubs. The lead in the NL Central is 2.5 games. 

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Luis Enrique says Paris St Germain reaching Champions League final is ‘a gift’

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Paris St Germain manager Luis Enrique believes his team gave their supporters “a gift” by reaching the Champions League final following a 6-5 aggregate win over Bayern Munich.

After last week’s nine-goal thriller in France, Ousmane Dembele’s third-minute goal in the Allianz Arena got the second leg off to the perfect start for the holders and left Bayern chasing a two-goal deficit that ultimately proved too much.

Harry Kane’s goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time made it 1-1 on the night but arrived too late to seriously unsettle the visitors, who will play Arsenal in the final in Budapest on May 30.

“Good memories,” said Luis Enrique. “We could leave the match with a lot of intensity. The defence were better than the attack. The character we showed against a team like Bayern is so positive. We’re so happy to reach a second Champions League final in a row.

“It was very intense. Very difficult. They play football at the highest level. Both teams are similar, we love to press higher. We are very happy.

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“In two days I’m going to celebrate my birthday. I’m very happy. We’re in the next phase of the competition, the final of the Champions League. We want to give our supporters that kind of gift.”

PSG opened up a two-goal lead in the tie inside three minutes. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia raced into space down the left and looked up to see Dembele arriving in the box. The Georgian playmaker pulled the ball back for Dembele to race onto it and hammer a finish first-time into the roof of the net before Manuel Neuer could react.

Bayern were furious not to have been awarded a penalty midway through the half. Goalkeeper Matvei Safonov made an uncertain punch and the ball landed with Vitinha, who in attempting to clear slammed the ball against the arm of team-mate Joao Neves. As it was another PSG player that had made the clearance, it was not deemed to be handball despite Neves’ arm being well away from his body.

Kane found space from Alphonso Davies’ pass in added time to fire the ball into the roof of the net, but there was not to be a famous fightback.

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“I understand if they’re disappointed,” Kompany told TNT Sports when asked what he said afterwards to his players. “I think we gave everything.

“It was a game of details. I think we’ve played five times against PSG in the last two years and we’ve won two times, they’ve won two times and now was a draw, so it’s just been that kind of game every single time.

“We have to look at some of the phases that were decided by the officials across the two games which, it’s never an excuse for everything…but it matters.

“If we look at both legs probably too much went against us. The guys gave everything and we tried against a fantastic PSG team.”

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Gary Player, 90, takes on Bryson DeChambeau in White House pushup contest

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LIV Golf star Bryson DeChambeau would probably beat most 90-year-olds handily in a pushup contest, but not Gary Player.

Player, 90, took on DeChambeau in a pushup contest on the White House lawn as President Trump watched Tuesday.

The nine-time major champion got down and went pushup for pushup with the 32-year-old.

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Gary Player teeing off on the first hole at Augusta National Golf Club

Honorary starter Gary Player reacts after teeing off on the first hole during the first round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., April 9, 2026. (Katie Goodale/Imagn Images)

Player and DeChambeau were at the White House Tuesday as Trump signed a presidential memorandum that restored the Presidential Fitness Test Award, which revives a competitive school-based fitness program that was phased out during the Obama administration.

The move echoed the Trump administration’s broader “Make America Healthy Again” push.

Player looked healthy during The Masters, when he piped his ceremonial tee shot right down the middle of the fairway last month. Player had a message while speaking at the Oval Office on Tuesday.

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“I say to the young people, ‘Just love this country because you don’t realize what’s going on around the world,’” Player said.

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Golfer Bryson DeChambeau speaking with President Donald Trump on the White House south lawn

Golfers Bryson DeChambeau and Gary Player speak with President Donald Trump as children observe on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., May 5, 2026. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo)

“There is a silent war taking place against America today, and what we’ve got to do is make these kids realize that freedom, exercise and education start with reading some books.

“What you put in your body is so important. What a wonderful job [Trump] has done. And to all your Cabinet members, I say thank you for maintaining this great word — this cherished word: freedom.”

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Player said his body is that of a 60-year-old.

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President Donald Trump giving children putting lessons on the White House south lawn with golfers Bryson DeChambeau and Gary Player watching

President Donald Trump gives children putting lessons on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., May 5, 2026, as golfers Bryson DeChambeau and Gary Player watch. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo)

“I don’t think of 90,” Player told The Palm Beach Post last year. “I am 90! But really, my body is a man of, I’d say, 60.”

Player said he hopes to live until he is 100 years sold and stays active by playing or working out as many days as possible.

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After his impressive showing against DeChambeau in a pushup contest, Player looked like someone who has spent a lot of his days working out.

Fox News’ Ashley J. DiMella contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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Mark Webster diagnosed with rare form of blood cancer

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Former world darts champion Mark Webster has been diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer.

Webster, who claimed World Championship glory on the British Darts Organisation (BDO) circuit in 2008, has not worked at a darts event for Sky Sports since February and has this week revealed why during a wide-ranging interview on Darts World’s YouTube channel.

Welsh left-hander Webster discovered in January that he had a rare form of blood cancer called hairy cell leukaemia and has not worked since he started chemotherapy in February.

“It sounds bad when you say leukaemia, but…it’s got a good prognosis, 95 per cent of cases are successful. I will be put into some sort of remission at some point, but just the recovery at the minute is not going to plan in terms of the speed of it,” Webster explained.

“My white blood counts are still not recovering, so therefore my immune system is not great at the minute, hence why I can’t go back to work.

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“It’s not the worst case sort of scenario, but it’s just a bit frustrating for me.

“I can work with people but just in sensible environments. It’s frustrating really. The day-to-day thing is a bit frustrating because I’m used to being busy. Premier League February 5 in Newcastle was the last time I worked, so yeah, (I’m) just managing it.

“I’ve got to trust the people that have been looking after me. They’ve been really good. I don’t always get the answers I want when I go in, but I’ve got to trust them.

“I got a bit carried away a few weeks ago thinking I might be able to come and work at Brighton, but my blood counts were too low.”

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Sky Sports pundit Webster remains hopeful that he can return to work soon, he added: “In myself I feel fine and I would love to go back to work, but they don’t like the environment I work in.

“At the minute it’s a case of doing as I’m told and being patient. It’s frustrating because I like to be busy, but hopefully it won’t be too much longer.”

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With past heartbreak in mind, La Salle nears unbeaten title run

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With past heartbreak in mind, La Salle nears unbeaten title run

La Salle’s last shot at a perfect UAAP season ended in heartbreak—and some members of that squad were around on Wednesday to help this batch of Lady Spikers keep their unbeaten run intact.

“It wasn’t like they were telling us exactly what to do to avoid those kinds of heartbreaks,” Angel Canino, the La Salle star hitter, said. “It was more about motivating us, reminding us that we can do it, that they’re there to support us, and that they believe in us.”

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Canino and her teammates took the first step toward deleting that old memory.

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Shaking off the effects of a 17-day hiatus, La Salle moved a game closer to a perfect title run after blanking defending champion National University, 25-23, 25-18, 25-18, in Game 1 of the Season 88 women’s volleyball best-of-three championship series at Mall of Asia Arena.

A win in Saturday’s Game 2 will not only end a three-year drought but also cap La Salle’s unblemished run to the crown.

On a day of slaying ghosts, Canino fired 17 points in the dominant victory, which came amid memories of the last time the Lady Spikers were in contention for a perfect season.

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That was in Season 76, when the Taft-based school swept its way to an outright title berth, only to be waylaid by fierce rival Ateneo and a young rising star named Alyssa Valdez.

“Season 76 was a nightmare. It still haunts the team. Back then, we swept the eliminations with Aby (Maraño) still leading the team, but Ateneo fought all the way in the finals,” coach Ramil de Jesus recalled.

CJ Saga and Lexi Tatlonghari, who played for De Jesus that season, were present to cheer on the current Lady Spikers.

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“It makes a big difference when former Lady Spikers—our ates (older sisters)—come up to us and show that kind of trust. We really appreciate it because, as players, we tend to overthink sometimes. So when they tell us, ‘We’re here, we believe in you,’ it means a lot and really helps us.”

De Jesus doubled down on the lessons from that season to make sure his current team understood the task at hand.

“I told them I don’t want that to happen again. Every year, we prepare for whoever the defending champion is. Now we’re back in this situation … Not everyone gets this opportunity, so we have to make the most of it,” he said.

Because of its eliminations sweep, La Salle had to wait 17 days before seeing action again, as teams had to play a stepladder semifinals for the right to face the Lady Spikers in the championship.

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But after getting through a testy first set, it was clear La Salle did not have to deal with rust as they moved closer to their 13th championship.

“I told the team that the stepladder format is [also] tough [for us] because the other teams get … used to the pressure while we’re resting,” said De Jesus.



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“So I told the players we just have to match that intensity. Earlier, I noticed we started a bit slow, but later in the set we adjusted and kept up. By then, they were handling the pressure better.”

Shane Reterta also delivered the goods for La Salle with 11 points, 23 receptions and nine digs. Amie Provido finished with 12 points, highlighted by four kill blocks, as captain Shevana Laput finished with 11 points.

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Champions League: Title-holders PSG edge Bayern Munich to reach second straight final

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Ousmane Dembélé scored early and Paris Saint-Germain eliminated Bayern Munich with a 1-1 draw to reach the Champions League final again on Wednesday.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia raced clear after playing a simple one-two with Fabián Ruiz in midfield, then picked out the unmarked Dembélé to sweep the ball in under the crossbar in the third minute of the semifinal second leg.

It gives PSG, the defending champion, a 6-5 lead on aggregate after edging their encounter 5-4 in the first leg in Paris last week.

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Bayern complained that the already-booked Nuno Mendes should have been booked again when the ball hit his arm, and there were more protests when Vitinha struck teammate João Neves’ arm with the ball in the penalty area with a clearance.

Jonathan Tah went closest for Bayern with a header wide before the break.

The winner will face Arsenal in the final in Budapest, Hungary, on May 30, after the Gunners defeated Atletico Madrid 1-0 on Tuesday to progress 2-1 on aggregate.

PSG and Bayern were the top-scoring sides in the competition with 43 and 42 goals before Wednesday’s game, respectively.

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The German club has won five of its last seven meetings with PSG in Munich, and is going for a repeat of the Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup treble of titles that it won in 2020 and 2013.

But PSG has good memories of Munich. The city was the scene of PSG’s triumph in the final last season when it demolished Inter Milan 5-0 to fulfill its Qatari owners’ quest to become European champion for the first time. A relatively unchanged team has been charged with delivering the second title.

FRANCE24 with AFP, AP

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Liam Cameron embraces ‘surfer’ mindset ahead of Brad Rea showdown

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Liam Cameron has been working with a sports psychologist, hoping to strengthen his already robust mindset ahead of his light-heavyweight encounter with Brad Rea.

Anyone familiar with the Yorkshireman’s story will know it has taken no small amount of grit and tenacity for him to reach this stage in his life, let alone his fighting career.

And, because of this, Cameron knows how vitally important it is to maintain a strong mindset, especially in a sport like boxing.

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By employing a sports psychologist, the 35-year-old has been able to gain a fresh perspective on the fear factor that comes with his chosen profession.

And this, he tells Boxing News, has only enabled him to better understand his reasoning for being involved in the hardest of sports.

“As humans, we complicate things. Our mind gets carried away; we overthink everything.

“As boxers, we need to have the mindset of a surfer: We can’t predict what waves are coming, but we’ve got to ride the wave when it’s there. We can’t think, ‘Oh, this wave’s too big’.

“[The sports psychologist] sent me a video of [actor] Will Smith jumping out of a plane. No one’s forcing Will Smith to get into that plane – just like, in boxing, no one’s forcing us to fight.

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“But all this fear builds up in our head and then, once we’ve jumped, the fear goes.

“So, [working with a mindset coach has] made me understand that I’m only boxing because I absolutely love it.”

While being reminded of his passion for the sport, Cameron is still riding the wave of his points victory over Troy Jones in November.

It was a somewhat debatable result, and perhaps not his greatest performance, but Cameron takes confidence from getting the job done with an injury.

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“I took the fight on four weeks’ notice and had a really bad injury. Being the person I am, I thought, ‘There’s levels to this game. I can still beat this guy’.

“So I got in the ring while not being able to throw any power shots, or move my head, and I made it hard work for myself. But if I can do that while being properly injured, what am I going to be like now?

“It was a trapped nerve in my shoulder joint, but it was pulling on my neck. Not many people would’ve gone through a fight feeling like that.”

Indeed, Cameron is more capable than most when it comes to pushing through the pain barrier, even if it means producing a more workmanlike performance.

Having fully recovered from his injury, though, the former Commonwealth champion is now determined to showcase his technical prowess against Rea.

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The pair will square off on May 9, featuring on the undercard of Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena, where Cameron expects to take full advantage of Rea’s supposed defensive flaws.

“In this camp, we’ve been doing a lot of southpaw sparring, because we know Brad likes to switch [stances].

“But I grew up in Sheffield, where fighters are often southpaws, so I actually prefer [fighting] southpaws.

“I think Brad’s got the heart of a lion when he boxes, but I think that makes him not as good as he should be. He just ends up swinging, because he wants to win so bad.”

Believing he is a level above, Cameron expects to come through Rea, a former European champion, in convincing fashion, but is nonetheless prepared for waves of all shapes and sizes.

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Canucks president Jim Rutherford explains why he’s stepping down now

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Press briefings for a lot of Vancouver Canucks senior managers over the years have been must-see theatre.

Imposing and authoritative, Pat Quinn once flicked his stick to knock a microphone out of a reporter’s hand, sending it skittering metallically across a concrete floor amid stunned silence. You didn’t dare miss a Mike Keenan press conference lest, as in NASCAR, you miss a fiery pileup.

The Brian Burke Show was endlessly quotable and often funny, and Rick Tocchet was always refreshingly direct and honest, even if he sometimes lapsed into a Rocky Balboa-like delivery that a former player described as “Tocky.”

But for sheer volume of news bombs dropped by simply telling us what he thought, president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford should be on the reporters’ Wall of Honour — if we had one. (We’d settle for a working press room at Rogers Arena).

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His casual declaration at the end of Tuesday’s post-draft-lottery press conference that he’d be retreating to an advisory role after the entry draft in June — and after he hires a new general manager — was an explosion instantly heard around the National Hockey League.

“It’s time,” Rutherford told us Wednesday before resuming the final phase of his GM search. “I have taken some time with this (decision), probably at least a year, not knowing exactly when I was going to make it. But you know, once you start thinking about it, then it’s time.”

In an interview with Sportsnet, Rutherford said he knew this would be his final season involved in key hockey operations decisions. He has a grown daughter in Raleigh, N.C., which has long been Rutherford’s home, and a son going into his senior year of high school at Shattuck-St. Mary’s Academy in Minnesota.

Rutherford wants to be nearer to them, which is why he will be based in North Carolina while he counsels Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini and the soon-to-be-named general manager. He will also be involved with the NHL as the Canucks’ alternate governor

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“It has nothing to do with my age because, quite frankly, I feel better, now that I’ve lost a lot of weight, than I did 20 or 25 years ago,” the 77-year-old said. “I still have a lot of gas in the tank if I want to work. But it’s time.

“It was time for me before the season even started; I was trending in that direction. But I think we can put something together here in our hockey department that I can feel good about when I step down.”

Rutherford declined to reveal anything about the final stage of his GM search, which he said Tuesday was down to five candidates, or whether there will be one new hire or two — another president to oversee the new manager.

Known GM candidates include Canucks assistant manager Ryan Johnson, and his counterparts Evan Gold (Boston Bruins) and Ryan Bowness (New York Islanders), as well as former Ottawa Senators GM Pierre Dorion.

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But given the volcanic reaction in the fan base Tuesday to news of Dorion’s candidacy — apart from the meltdown on social media, the Canucks were flooded with complaints — it’s impossible to see Aquilini hiring him.

There is, of course, an obvious question about why Rutherford is even involved in a hiring critical to a rebuild if he is soon leaving.

“Well, ownership wanted me to stay, and I’m still part of the organization,” he said. “I think if I was totally leaving the organization, that would be a fair point. But I’m an advisor to ownership and to hockey ops. I think when it all plays out, people will understand.”

Despite the Canucks’ last-place finish and worst season this century, there doesn’t seem to be the same level of vitriol in the fan base towards Rutherford that there was towards Jim Benning and even Mike Gillis at the end of those preceding managerial regimes in Vancouver.

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Still, Rutherford is stepping down from a 32nd-place team after inheriting one in December, 2021 that included a young core of centres J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson and Bo Horvat, defenceman Quinn Hughes and goalie Thatcher Demko.

His greatest failing was probably underestimating and mishandling the Canucks’ internal dysfunction, friction between Miller and Pettersson and others, which became worse after Horvat was traded and the other two were re-signed. The dressing-room culture turned out to be toxic.

“As I’ve said before, personally, I wish I’d have done a better job,” Rutherford said. “But with that being said, we were trending in the right direction two years ago and then we had to deal with these circumstances that we weren’t expecting.

“Once J.T. was moved, we knew the team was going to take a step back. And I had known for quite some time that Quinn probably wasn’t coming back, so that was the next thing to deal with (when he was traded in December). And then once those two guys were gone, it was an easy decision to go to a rebuild.

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“You always have challenges, but these challenges have been extra tough to deal with. I mean, in a four-year period, I’ve never seen the kind of challenges in my career like I’ve had here in Vancouver.”

“You know, hindsight is a great thing,” he said. “It’s very easy (to second-guess). But J.T. Miller was the driving force for this team as the forward, Quinn was on defence and we had Thatcher Demko in goal. I would make the same decisions that were made at the time.

“It didn’t work out, although we were a game away from going to the conference finals (two years ago). If the glue had stayed on here and it all didn’t fall apart that following year… that team could have even been better. And so, like I said, it’s easy in hindsight.”

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As he said at the end of the season, and again on Tuesday, Rutherford is optimistic about the Canucks’ future because of the team’s young players (and others who will be added at the draft) and a dressing-room culture he believes has been fixed.

“I know a lot of people will think that this sounds stupid,” he said, “and I know it doesn’t feel this way coming off such a disappointing season, but from the time I got here to where we are today, I think this is the best position the team could be in to build a winner. Because now it can be built with the foundation of these young guys. We have good veterans now that have accepted the young guys and the rebuild. They can mentor and play the game. But we have a very good group of young players and this draft can be a game-changer for the Canucks.

“There’s going to be some bumpy roads here for the next year, maybe two. But I do think that the team hit rock bottom this year, and it will be a team that will be more competitive (next season) and people can be excited about watching the young players grow. It will be fun to watch.”

But Rutherford will be doing that from home in Raleigh rather than the management suite at Rogers Arena.

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“I made a commitment to the Canucks team here, and I will continue that commitment,” he said. “And even if there’s not a lot of calls from hockey ops, having somebody like me as an advisor to the owner makes sense. I still have things to offer, and if people want to use that, that’s fine. And if they don’t want to use it, that’s fine, too.

“I know things didn’t go as well on the ice as we all would have hoped, but our hockey operations group was aligned, worked hard and (former GM) Patrik Allvin did a lot of good things. I’m thankful to all those people for the working relationship. I’m thankful to the players that we have. And I’m really thankful to the fan base. Despite the fact it didn’t go as well as I would have liked, I’m glad that I’ve experienced this… being in a great Canadian market with such a passionate fan base.

“I hope the rebuild moves along quicker than some might think. You can’t put a timeline on it. But it’s got a good foundation and is going in the right direction.”

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