Oleksandr Usyk has spoken out after Moses Itauma dramatically came up short against Filip Hrgovic on Saturday.

Itauma suffered the first defeat of his professional career as he was stopped by Hrgovic in their vacant IBF heavyweight title fight at The O2 Arena in London.

It looked like the Brit was well on the way to earning the win and becoming the second youngest world heavyweight champion in history, after knocking down Hrgovic in the second round and continuing to dominate as the action progressed.

Hrgovic showed a granite chin though and was able to weather the storm throughout the bout, allowing him to defeat his exhausted rival in the ninth round after Itauma had punched himself out and was struggling to stand upright.

The vacant IBF belt was on the line after Usyk had relinquished his unified heavyweight titles earlier this summer, and the Ukrainian has now shared his reaction to what unfolded over the weekend.

Posting on social media, Usyk congratulated Hrgovic on his win, whilst also insisting that Itauma will be able to bounce back from the loss.

“The Itauma vs Hrgovic fight is another reminder of how unpredictable boxing can be. Anything can happen once you step into the ring. Congratulations, Filip on a great victory! Moses, this is not the end. Come back stronger and keep moving forward. Your journey has only just begun!”

Usyk has previously referred to Itauma as ‘the future’ of the heavyweight division, but the 21-year-old will now have to rebuild as he looks to recover from his first professional defeat.

In a truly historic performance at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, the renowned Golden Slipper winner Guest House not only conquered a 35-year-old jinx but also obliterated a track record that had remained unbeaten for nearly two decades.

Guest House, guided by jockey Zac Lloyd, bravely forced their way through an exceptionally tight gap along the inside rail in the final stretch, subsequently racing away to capture the Group 3 $250,000 San Domenico Stakes over 1100 metres.

This imposing colt, whose value is conservatively estimated at $30 million, is now being considered for an unprecedented attempt at a Group 1 sprint treble, aiming for the $1 million Golden Rose (1400m), the $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m), and the $2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).

If any three-year-old is equipped to potentially win these three prestigious sprints, it is Guest House, a colt distinguished by his considerable size and exceptional ability.

Trainer Mick Price expressed his deep admiration for both Guest House and his talented young jockey, Zac Lloyd.

“Amazing win by a very good horse,” Price said. “You might even think he has improved from his (Golden) Slipper to come out here over 1100m and do what he did.

“He had to race so genuine as Blue Door was holding the fence and Zac just owns these races, he comes out and writes his own story.

“I thought as long as the horse is running on I would be happy as the race did set up well for the favourite (Blue Door).

“I didn’t give Zac any instructions. I knew what I wanted and I asked him what he thought.

“He said one of two things will happen. If he bounces out I will go with him but if he takes 50-60m to get going I will ride a race.

“If I hear the right thing I don’t interfere – and I heard the right thing.”

Guest House ($7) positioned himself on the rail behind the leader, Blue Door ($1.95 favourite), entering the straight. Lloyd then urged his colt to push through the narrowest of openings on the inside of the front-running filly.

With very little room available and the inside rail buckling under the strain, Guest House exhibited remarkable determination to break through and then surge clear for a victory by one-and-a-quarter lengths. Blue Door secured second place, while Music Time ($12), a previous placegetter in the Golden Slipper, finished a length further back in third.

The outstanding Guest House, a son of the former sprint star Home Affairs, has now achieved three wins and two placings from his five career starts, rewriting racing history in the process.

Guest House achieved the rare feat of completing the Golden Slipper-San Domenico Stakes double, a double not accomplished since Tierce in 1991.

His 1100m time at Rosehill of 1 minute 02.41 seconds shattered the previous track record of 1 minute 02.51 seconds set by Westicaro in 2007.

Furthermore, Guest House became the first Golden Slipper-winning colt or gelding to win as an older horse since Pierro in 2012.

Following this exceptional performance, TAB Fixed Odds moved Guest House to $3 favouritism for the Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 26 and positioned him at $13 on the third line of betting for The Everest.

Tom Magnier, a part-owner of Guest House and a significant figure at Coolmore Stud, suggested that the colt is a strong candidate for their Everest slot.

“I came here today under the impression the 1100m would be a bit too short for him but he blew those expectations out of the water,” Magnier remarked. “This wasn’t his end goal but to come here and win so well and break a track record, it is very exciting.”

Star young jockey Zac Lloyd, who also rode a Rosehill treble including wins on stayer Aethelwulf and Epsom Handicap hopeful Althoff, commented on Guest House’s readiness to take the inside run.

“I knew at the 400m, the way he was coping with that speed, he was just ready to go,” Lloyd explained. “And I needed a run, but I knew I had a very good horse underneath me so I wasn’t rushing.

“Tommy (Berry on Blue Door) gave him just enough room, and those horses, you give them a message, they’re straight in there.

“It was fantastic, and he’s actually done that quite comfortably, a perfect first-time run for him.

“He’s a big, robust colt and he’s only going to get better with every run. For him to do that at 1100m, it’s very exciting.”

Price noted that Lloyd was aboard the ideal horse to execute the tight inside run.

“If you have the right motor and right horse it is a lot easier than if you are not on the bridle – gee, he’s a good colt,” Price commented. “I want him in the zone for the three races that makes a colt’s (stud) career.

“The Golden Rose, The Everest and the Coolmore – they are three races I want him to be in the zone.

“I thought 1100m was a bit short for him first-up, I did feel, but that is just how good he is.

“Someone said ‘could you win the Caulfield Guineas with this’ and that could happen but you can’t run him in everything.

“He’s just a gun colt and very happy that Coolmore have backed him – he’s just fantastic.”

Explore the latest racing odds and betting markets available at Australian betting sites.

In the end, the end comes for everyone. And at the end, the end can be brutal; not a heroic rage against the passing of time and dying of the light, but in tears, doubling over with cramp, and vomiting in the punishing New York humidity. Novak Djokovic was not just left facing the question of how long he has left to fight after his first-round exit from the US Open on Sunday night, but how many more times he could stomach the difficult scenes that accompanied his five-set defeat to Mariano Navone. “I pretty much despised every moment that I spent on the court,” the 39-year-old said.

Djokovic has previously stated that he wants to keep playing until the LA Olympics in 2028, where he compete under Serbia’s flag for one last time. The dream of a record 25th grand slam title and the thrill of competition is what keeps his fight alive. It was only in January that Djokovic produced one of the greatest performances of his career in defeating Jannik Sinner in five sets in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, a night that vindicated his belief and continued pursuit. It is an achievement that looks all the more remarkable now after Djokovic admitted to an underlying health issue that is causing serious discomfort on the court. “Can the issue be fixed?” Djokovic said. “I don’t know. I’m trying.”

If it can’t, and Djokovic’s body continues to “collapse” in conditions such as a stifling late August night in New York, then the road to Los Angeles could become a long one. Though he continues to dedicate himself entirely to his physical conditioning, Djokovic is already essentially a part-time tennis player, concentrating solely on the grand slams and using the occasional tour event as a warm-up towards the biggest tournaments. He still reached all four grand slam finals in 2025 and was the third-best player in the world behind Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner, and then reached a grand slam final at the start of 2026. But the drop-off since Wimbledon – although he has only played two matches – has been alarming.

Djokovic’s ranking will now fall outside of the world’s top-10 for the first time since 2018, making his path in future grand slams even harder. So much had to fall his way already: managing his conditioning and staying injury-free, avoiding both Alcaraz and Sinner in the draw, and the odd stroke of luck such as Lorenzo Musetti’s quarter-final retirement in Australia. At the US Open, with Sinner sidelined and Alcaraz only just returning from his wrist injury, Djokovic had what appeared on paper to be a golden opportunity, before the painful reality of attempting to become the oldest man to win a grand slam in history set in the final two sets of his defeat on Sunday night.

And yes, the words “painful reality” have been used to describe the challenges Djokovic encounters at grand slam many times since his last major title at the US Open in 2023. But there was a pride and defiance on his way to successive semi-final defeats to Alcaraz and Sinner last season. Even at Wimbledon this year, his five-hour quarter-final victory over the third seed Felix Auger-Aliassime ranked as a vintage display. But the tears that welled up in Djokovic’s eyes as the Arthur Ashe Stadium stood to cheer his solitary game in the fifth set against Navone, as he shuffled around the court and looked every bit his age? They were painful, and all too real.

Djokovic knew it, too. He is not the first and will not be the last great champion to face the reckoning that comes when their powers begin to wane and their body refuses to answer. Djokovic “despised” it and likely gained nothing from it apart from perhaps a few more doubts to go along with the body-blow of how suddenly the end can appear. Ahead of 2027, the year where he turns 40, he could yet find comfort in reframing his expectations. But even doing that would be admitting to defeat. If Djokovic’s physical issues are simply his age, it is a problem that has no remedy.

As tough as it was to watch Djokovic’s defeat to Navone, there is every chance he returns in January at the Australian Open following several months of rest, recovery and preparation and once again proves everyone wrong by going deep into the tournament. But Djokovic’s earliest grand slam exit since he was a teenager asks a question that will surely now follow him into the 23rd season of his career, of how long he is prepared to accept being a diminished force, should another he fall to another early defeat in Melbourne.

It may be a Bank Holiday in the UK but that does not mean it will be a slow one at City. The transfer window closes at 11pm tomorrow and there are still deals for City to do before the market shuts until January. City’s main focus is likely to be on incomings. Palmeiras’ Allan is set to sign but the Blues still want another forward. Liverpool’s Gakpo is on their radar.

Crunch talks are expected with Chelsea between now and the 11pm deadline to finalise a move for Fernandez. The Argentina international would complete City’s midfield rebuild, were he to sign. Everton’s Ndiaye is also thought to be on City’s radar and Grealish could be used as a makeweight to complete the deal.

Stay tuned for updates…

San Beda Red Lions coach Yuri Escueta during the Filoil Preseason Tournament Finals.–FILOIL PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—San Beda will have to make do without one of its key players in its NCAA title defense in the upcoming Season 102 men’s basketball tournament.

After losing stars Janti Miller, Bryan Sajonia and Joe Celzo, the Red Lions also won’t have the services of starting guard Nygel Gonzales, who suffered a torn ACL in the offseason.

“Losing Nygel is very big for us, especially since he’s a big part of our defensive schemes,” coach Yuri Escueta told the Inquirer during the league’s pre-season press conference on Monday at Mall of Asia Arena.

READ: Janti Miller transfers to La Salle from San Beda

When asked who would take on the mantle as the Red Lions’ premier guard, Escueta joked he’s the next man up.

“Sabi ko ako na lang, e. Ako na lang mag-point guard,” the former Ateneo guard said in jest. (I told them I’d do it. I’ll play point guard.)

Kidding aside, Escueta remains confident that the team has other guards who have what it takes to step up.

“We have capable guards. I’m very confident with our guard rotation. We have Jimmy Reyes, Penny (Estacio), Maco Dabao and Dan Marcelo.”

Gonzales was a key part of San Beda’s NCAA Finals sweep of rival Letran last season, averaging 16.5 points, 4.5 assists and 2.3 rebounds.

“His recovery is looking very positive. He’s in his third month and he’s running and jumping now. We’re very happy with the process of his recovery,” said Escueta o

Jaja Santiago-Minowa makes her debut for Creamline in the PVL Invitational Conference against Nxled.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Jaja Santiago-Minowa lived up to the hype surrounding her Creamline debut in the PVL Invitational Conference on Monday.

Playing in her first official game in a PVL conference after five years, Minowa led the Cool Smashers to a 25-20, 25-23, 23-25, 25-20, over Nxled at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Minowa delivered 19 points, nailing 17 of her 30 attack attempts on top of a block and an ace.

READ: Alyssa Valdez, Jaja Santiago show old connection at Creamline

The Filipino-born Japanese citizen was backstopped by Jema Galanza, who had 17 points, 14 digs, and 11 excellent receptions. Tots Carlos had 14 points, while Alyssa Valdez had 13 points and 12 receptions.

Creamline setter Kyle Negrito tossed 31 excellent sets alongside six points.

The Cool Smashers eye their second win against Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

Jonah Sabete-Escamillan and EJ Cariño led the Chameleons in the third set as they continued to miss Brooke Van Sickle due to a shoulder injury.

READ: Jaja Santiago makes winning Creamline debut in PVL On Tour

Escamillan had 20 points, 25 receptions, and 11 digs. Cariño had 18 points, while MJ Phillips added 11.

Nxled seeks to bounce back against defending champion PLDT on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.

Allan Elias said it was surreal and the proudest moment of his life to join Manchester City after completing his £32m move to the FA Cup winners.

The uncapped Brazilian has signed a five-year deal with City, who could pay Palmeiras a further £2m in add-ons.

The 22-year-old becomes one of the replacements for Savinho and Omar Marmoush, who have gone to Tottenham in deals that could earn City up to £145m, and may be the first of two wingers recruited at the end of the transfer window.

City are also interested in Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo and Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye as they look for further options in attack, while, in a busy final couple of days of the summer trading, they face a decision whether to bid for Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez.

Allan’s arrival takes City’s summer spending to more than £250m, though they have already brought in more than that, even before Marmoush’s loan to Spurs becomes a permanent deal.

Allan, who made 96 appearances for Palmeiras, said: “This is a surreal moment for me. Manchester City, with everything they have won over the past 15 years, are one of the most attractive clubs in the world for players. To be able to sit here today and say I have joined them is the proudest moment of my life.

“I love Palmeiras and always will – but the decision to come to City was an easy one. I want to be the best footballer I can be and the conversations I’ve had with the people at City so far has convinced me there isn’t a better place for me to fulfil my ambitions.

“My intention is to help City continue winning trophies. If I can do that, it would be a dream come true.”

Allan’s former Palmeiras teammate Vitor Reis sent him a message when he was considering joining City and they will link up again at the Etihad Stadium.

And City director of football Hugo Viana believes his new signing’s fighting spirit and work ethic mean he can have a big impact.

Viana said: “Allan is a really exciting player, and we think he will be a big addition to the squad. He has shown throughout his short career so far that he will fight to be the best he can be. Coming to Manchester and taking on the challenge of being a City player is another example of that.

“We watched his progress in Brazil and saw a player that thrives in the big moments and works hard for the team with a superb attitude. Everyone is very happy that he has joined us and we look forward to seeing him grow with City.”

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Miller covers College Basketball and College Football as well as Formula 1 racing as a Senior Writer and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports.

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