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Amanda Balionis Breaks Silence as CBS Wraps Up PGA Tour Season With a Big Reveal

Banking on the PGA Tour has paid off! CBS has been a primary broadcast partner of the American golf league since 1970. They have presented Jack Nicklaus‘s 18th major win, Tiger Woods‘s rise and fall, the emergence of Scottie Scheffler, and the end of Rory McIlroy‘s 11-year suffering. Throughout this time, the viewership has experienced highs and lows, depending on the enthralling nature of the action. However, things shockingly went downhill as the ratings mysteriously plummeted last year. But the latest report from CBS reveals that things are better than ever.

Amanda Balionis shared a story on Instagram of a post from GOLF.com, which mentioned how the average viewership is up by 17%. In fact, it also reveals that this is the best viewership CBS has received since 2018, confirming that the ratings are better than ever. To end, the post read, “It was also the most-streamed golf season in Paramount+’s history.” Celebrating the outstanding feat, Balionis captioned the post, “You love to see it 👏.”

READ: Why Rory McIlroy ‘reluctant’ to return to the USA ahead of

Amanda, who only joined CBS in 2017 as a part-time golf reporter, had seen the highs of golf broadcasting on CBS back in 2018. She also bore witness to the huge influx of fans during the 2019 Masters Tournament when Tiger Woods captured his 15th major and 5th Green Jacket. Today, Balionis is one of the most respected reporters in the sport. She was also one of the lead analysts at Augusta National. In fact, the 39-year-old had expressed how grateful she was to get the opportunity to work with Jim Nantz & Co. at CBS and present such a prestigious event to the fans.

Such personalities within the team have helped the network gain great viewership in 2025. Interestingly, CBS Sports had shared a few other figures to reflect how well the network had performed statistically. Let’s take a deeper dive into that.

Do the numbers justify Amanda Balionis’s celebration?

Considering the dip the TV ratings took in 2024, 17% might not seem like a huge increase. However, the actual numbers do tell a different story altogether. As per details provided by CBS Sports, they averaged 2.969 million in every tournament preceding the FedEx Cup playoffs in 2025. A year back, the network averaged around 2.5 million viewers only. This came as a huge surprise, considering that viewership was constantly growing every year before that.

In 2022, CBS Sports saw 2.545 million viewers throughout the main season before heading into the last three events. A year later, the number increased by 5% to 2.666 million viewers. The reason behind the TV ratings taking a dip in 2024 is still unexplained. However, it’s still good to see that the network and the PGA Tour have recovered from it in 2025 itself. That means Brian Rolapp will not need to pull off any dreadful stunt to retain viewership by the end of the year, unlike Jay Monahan in 2024.

BOXING

Jake Paul Gains Rare Support From MMA Fans as

Jake Paul Gains Rare Support From MMA Fans as Conor McGregor’s UFC Return Faces Backlash

Conor McGregor is stirring the pot once more!

After months of rumors, setbacks, and a toe injury that scrapped his UFC 303 comeback, the Irish icon is reigniting excitement around his long-anticipated return to the Octagon. The former two-division champion has been out of action since suffering a brutal leg break in his trilogy clash with Dustin Poirier back in July 2021. After nearly three years of hyping up a comeback, Conor McGregor has finally taken a concrete step toward making it happen. He has rejoined the UFC’s drug testing pool and has turned talk into a real possibility.

On Sunday, ‘Notorious’ amped up the excitement surrounding his return by sharing a video of himself drilling kicks. He gave fans a glimpse of the firepower he’s preparing to bring back to the Octagon. Conor McGregor’s comment section lit up after he posted his latest training video, with a wave of fans cheering on his long-awaited comeback. But not everyone was in his corner. Among the critics was none other than Jake Paul, the YouTuber-turned-boxer who’s made a habit of throwing jabs at McGregor online.

JUST IN: Khabib Nurmagomedov Labels Floyd Mayweather a

Paul, who’s been publicly campaigning for a fight with the UFC megastar for years, once again took the opportunity to mock the 37-year-old under the post. Despite his repeated callouts, McGregor has never entertained the idea of stepping into the ring with Paul. Still, that hasn’t stopped the social media provocateur from taking shots at MMA’s biggest name whenever the spotlight is shining. The 28-year-old reminded the former UFC dual-champion that it was time he called it quits and commented, “Bro, just give it up lol.” Jake Paul clearly believes it’s time for McGregor to hang up the gloves, but retirement doesn’t appear to be on the Irishman’s agenda anytime soon.

Redditors then took up the comment and shared the video of McGregor training on UFC’s subreddit. However, more than the video, it was Jake Paul’s reaction that caught the attention of many. Just hours before posting the training clip that ruffled Jake Paul’s feathers, ‘Mystic Mac’ made a headline-grabbing prediction about his future. McGregor boldly declared his intention to compete on the UFC’s White House card in July 2026, right after pulling off what many would consider an improbable political victory. But unfortunately, fans don’t quite agree with the sentiment.

Conor McGregor’s latest training video gets honest assessment from fans

If there’s one thing fans have come to expect from Conor McGregor—besides sharp suits and sharper trash talk—it’s his consistent stream of training videos on social media. For McGregor, training isn’t just a private grind—it’s a performance. This habit dates back years, but it’s become even more prominent during his periods of inactivity. Of course, not every post is met with applause, and this is exactly what has happened with his latest post. The fans have surprisingly taken the side of Jake Paul.

One of the fans pointed out how the 37-year-old McGregor looked nowhere close to his best and sarcastically commented, “What an incredible speed.” A fan shared another sarcastic jab suggesting McGregor looks sluggish and awkward, like how people often move in slow motion during dreams, and commented, “How I fight in my dreams..” There was a time when McGregor was known for his movement inside the Octagon. However, looking at his recent video, one user commented, “Looks like he’s stuck in the mud.”

One direct critique pointed out how the former dual champion doesn’t seem sharp or in sync like he used to. While “McCoker” might be a mocking nickname, the comment read, “McCoker seems slow and uncoordinated.” It has been quite a lot of time since Conor McGregor fought under the UFC banner. While he has been training for quite some time now, it seems he has yet to get back to full fitness, as pointed out by one of the fans: “He’s looking so slow.”

Jake Paul and McGregor have been trying to get into a fight with each other for quite some time now. While the fight is yet to happen, one fan feels McGregor might lose it and commented, “So slow and stiff but tbh I’d still favour him on Jake in a fight.” A nostalgic critique suggested that McGregor has declined and lost the fluidity and speed that defined his earlier career and commented, “Old Conor would be ashamed of that stiffness.”

Overall, most of these comments reflect disappointment in how the Irishman appears in his training footage, especially compared to his prime. However, one just cannot rule out McGregor in a fight. But the big question is, will the Dubliner ever make a return to the Octagon?

BOXING

Khabib Nurmagomedov Labels Floyd Mayweather a

By late 2018, the fight between Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather was in the rearview mirror. And by now, Khabib Nurmagomedov had successfully defeated McGregor.

Meanwhile, talks had begun swirling around about a potential bout between Mayweather and Nurmagomedov. Despite a colossal sum of money being offered by Dana White, the undefeated UFC champ refused to take the fight. At the time, there appeared to be no personal animosity between the two—just personal choices. Both went their merry ways. But now that dynamic seems to have shifted.

‘The Eagle,’ who officially retired in 2021 after his win over Justin Gaethje in October 2020, appeared in a speaking engagement on Saturday in New York for the Miftaah Institute, where he severely criticized Floyd Mayweather. The topic came when he was asked about legacy. “You know, yesterday I watched an interview with a guy whose nickname is ‘Money.’ They paid him to fly to Jerusalem. And there he was, talking about how he supports that country. He fought for money. I fought for legacy—because if you inspire people, that is legacy. But garbage people like that guy—they’ll never inspire anyone. I apologize for my language,” the Russian translation of his response read. If his dig wasn’t clear enough, Khabib Nurmagomedov spelled it out for the listeners.

JUST IN: Jake Paul Had No Choice but Use Legal Action Against

“I’m talking about Mayweather. Mayweather,” the Eagle asserted. Talking about how the 48-year-old undefeated boxer prioritizes money over legacy, he stated, “I would never do something like that, because I fought for legacy. And when the truth comes, you must stand by the truth. That’s what legacy is—when you inspire people.” The 36-year-old continued, “We know so many champions. They were amazing in the octagon or in the ring. We know footballers too. But as human beings, they’re nobodies. People see them and don’t even want to talk to them, because inside, they’re empty. But we also know champions who inspire people, who fought for legacy.” The former UFC lightweight champion then brought up Muhammad Ali, prompting cheers from the crowd!

“For example, we know Muhammad Ali. He’s the greatest athlete to walk the earth in the last 100 years,” Nurmagomedov told the crowd gathered. Comparing Ali’s resume with Floyd Mayweather, the Dagestani fighter acknowledged that Mayweather is a great boxer, “But as a person, no one wants to be like [Mayweather], because he’s a nobody in life. Look at Muhammad Ali. He died, but he inspired millions, billions of people—not just Muslims. People love him. And not just because he was a Muslim.”

Praising Muhammad Ali, Khabib added, “It’s because he was a genuinely good person who stood on the side of truth. That’s why we can call him a fighter for legacy.” However, ‘Money’ Mayweather caught more insults from the Dagestani legend. “And that other guy—who is he? When he dies, people will forget him. They won’t even want to hear his name. That’s the difference between fighters who fight for money and those who fight for legacy,” Khabib said during the event.

While Mayweather—who retired from boxing in August 2017—has yet to respond to these statements, the reason their fight never happened has long been revealed, and it’s something to do with money.

Khabib Nurmagomedov reveals why he rejected $100 million fight against Floyd Mayweather

In August 2021, during an episode of Hot Boxin’ with Mike Tyson, Nurmagomedov revealed he rejected multiple offers to box Floyd Mayweather for $100 million. He insisted the main reason behind his refusal to fight Mayweather was his principle—he never fights for money. “Money brings you to the situation that you have never been, and you don’t know how to act… In this business, I don’t come to make money. I come here for legacy,” he said.

Khabib’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz, also claimed that the UFC supported the fight. “Dana White was on board… But Khabib is an MMA fighter. If Floyd wanted to come to fight, get his little a– whooped, no problem.” Mayweather went on to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Logan Paul in an exhibition fight, which also failed to impress the 36-year-old retired UFC fighter. Khabib told Russian media, “There was no competitive aspect to it, old Mayweather came out, they sparred and made money—what else is there to say?”

It appears that even though Khabib Nurmagomedov never liked Floyd Mayweather, this is the first time he has been this severely critical of Mayweather’s actions.

BOXING

Jake Paul Had No Choice but Use Legal Action Against

Jake Paul Had No Choice but Use Legal Action Against Critics’ Rigging Allegations, Explains Chael Sonnen

Jake Paul has been making waves in the boxing world, but his rise hasn’t come without controversy. Following his highly publicized bout against Mike Tyson last November — streamed exclusively on Netflix — Tyson’s close friend and former NFL star Adam ‘Pacman’ Jones publicly claimed the fight was rigged. Similar accusations surfaced again after Paul secured a unanimous decision win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in June.

Veteran journalist Piers Morgan also cast doubt on the legitimacy of Paul’s win during his show. While Paul and his business partner, Nakisa Bidarian, have repeatedly pushed back against such allegations, they appear to have reached their limit. After recently threatening Morgan with legal action, Paul has reportedly retained high-profile attorney Alex Spiro, best known for representing the likes of Elon Musk, to take on the mounting criticism.

Amid all this, former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen has weighed in, shedding light on why Jake Paul hired high-profile attorney Spiro — reportedly charging $3,000 an hour — to take on his critics. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Sonnen revealed, “I give each and every one of you a full pass. I have a direct line to Jake, I am somebody Jake will listen to, I can get you a pass. Truly.” He added that the only reason he’s willing to defend some critics is because, in his words, “I don’t believe that you know what it is you’re saying.”

READ: EXCLUSIVE: Why Usyk vs Jake Paul is ‘homicide, even in a

Sonnen believes many of the accusations of fight-fixing stem from people chasing headlines and clicks rather than genuine concern. He emphasized that Paul’s decision to bolster his legal team stems from the serious nature of the allegations. “You’re accusing him of a crime. I don’t think that you’re aware of that,” Sonnen said, highlighting the legal gravity of rigging a sporting event. “It is beyond illegal to rig something that has gaming. Beyond illegal. I don’t think you realize the severity — not just from an ethical and moral standpoint, which would take away from everything, every piece of hard work that you’ve ever done.”

Interestingly, Spiro — renowned for fiercely defending his clients’ reputations — has previously represented high-profile figures like Jay-Z, Alec Baldwin, and Naomi Osaka. Jake Paul’s decision to bring Spiro on board signals a serious shift in how he’s approaching his boxing career. It suggests that Paul is now more committed than ever to safeguarding his brand and credibility within the sport. With Spiro’s extensive experience in high-stakes cases and his keen understanding of public perception, Paul appears determined to silence his critics through legal means rather than just in the ring.

“I’ve been retained by Mr. Paul to pursue legal redress for the damages he has suffered,” Spiro said in a statement, per the Daily Mail. “If someone uses their public soapbox to harm him and the sport with lies, there will be consequences.” Regardless, while Paul’s legal move may have caught many off guard, his business partner had already addressed the growing wave of baseless allegations weeks earlier, hinting that action might be taken.

Rigging allegations against Jake Paul are defamatory, says Bidarian

On July 8th, MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian appeared in an interview with MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, where he directly addressed the rigging allegations surrounding Jake Paul. “When you definitively state that Jake is putting on staged or rigged fights, that’s just defamation,” he told Helwani. “And you’re causing substantial damage to his business, to MVP’s business, and something that’s 100 per cent not true.”

Bidarian further claimed that these accusations have negatively impacted Paul’s partnerships with DAZN, Netflix, and Celsius, forcing them into uncomfortable and unwarranted conversations with their corporate partners. “Our legal representation is looking at multiple individuals to go after,” Bidarian had told Helwani at the time.

Turns out Jake Paul wasn’t bluffing about going after his critics for making baseless accusations. Now, media personalities will have to either refrain from talking about the subject or face Paul’s legal team on the courtroom floor. And from Spiro’s resume, he may land a knockout blow.

CELEB NEWS

Serena Williams: “They Never Accepted Me Because of My

“They Never Accepted Me Because of My Skin” — Serena Williams Opens Up About Pain, Prejudice, and Power in Her Interracial Marriage

With a calm but resolute voice, the 23-time Grand Slam champion revealed the silent struggles she’s endured behind closed doors in her marriage to tech entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit.

READ: [VIDEO] Serena Williams joins a viral TikTok trend after a refreshing mist while

“I know my husband loves me. He always has,”

Serena began.

“But what most people don’t know is… his family never fully accepted me. Not because of who I am — but because of the color of my skin.”

The confession has ignited powerful conversations about race, identity, and belonging — especially in interracial relationships. For Serena, whose career and achievements have broken records and redefined greatness, the rejection she felt from Alexis’s family was not just hurtful — it was deeply personal.

She recounted how, in the early days of their relationship, she was met with distant stares, patronizing politeness, and a lingering sense of exclusion.

“At first, I thought I was imagining it… I thought maybe I needed to try harder. But over time, it became too clear to ignore.”

Despite Alexis’s unwavering support and love — which Serena made clear has never faltered — the emotional toll of never truly being embraced by his inner circle lingered.

“I’ve won titles. I’ve built my life from the ground up. But in their eyes… I was still not quite enough for their son. And I know exactly why.”

Serena emphasized that she wasn’t speaking from a place of bitterness. Instead, she was using her platform to shed light on a reality that many Black women face daily — walking into spaces where their presence alone becomes uncomfortable for others.

“My value doesn’t depend on anyone’s comfort with my Blackness,”

she declared.

“I no longer chase the approval of people who were never willing to see my worth.”

The emotional moment sparked thunderous applause — not just for Serena’s bravery in speaking her truth, but for voicing a shared experience many endure in silence.

Fans across the world have praised her honesty, calling her a voice for the voiceless and a symbol of resilience.

As the video continues to go viral, the message is clear: Even icons feel pain — and sometimes, the biggest battles are the ones the world never sees.

BOXING

EXCLUSIVE: Why Usyk vs Jake Paul is ‘homicide, even in a

Speaking to WBN in the wake of Usyk’s commanding rematch victory over Daniel Dubois on July 19 at Wembley Stadium, Krassyuk confirmed the controversial crossover bout has momentum, but warned it can’t be viewed as a real fight.

Usyk vs Paul is “Widely Discussed”
“This fight is widely discussed now. But it can’t be a boxing match as it is a homicide,” Krassyuk told WBN.

JUST IN: Jake Paul is a tougher opponent for Anthony Joshua than

“Even a cage fight does not leave chances for the young YouTuber. But money talks. And this event can generate some serious numbers.”

Paul, who entered the ring at Wembley following Usyk’s win, caused a stir by teasing a potential clash with the unified champion.

While the size difference and skill gap appear insurmountable, Krassyuk acknowledged that the financial appeal could force the issue.

“There are always two sides to the coin,” he added. “The positive thing is that the Paul brothers draw the attention of hundreds of millions of youngsters to boxing. On the other hand, they miscommunicated its real meaning, fighting the retired MMA veterans and old legends.”

Krassyuk concluded with a pointed message for the 28-year-old American: “I think that as soon as Jake Paul decently defeats a real professional boxer of a high level, he will immediately gain the respect of the boxing community.”

Is Retirement the Next Step for Usyk?
For now, Usyk’s next opponent remains a mystery after completing his mandatory obligations. But with Paul now licensed at cruiserweight and hunting prominent names, the unthinkable may not be as far-fetched as it once seemed.

Paul is reportedly in talks for a suicidal mission against Anthony Joshua. Meanwhile, Krassyuk believes Usyk should retire from the sport after achieving everything possible and more.

“I don’t see him fighting anymore, at least in boxing,” Krassyuk told WBN. “He has proved it all, there’s nothing more to gain.

“For sure, there’re going to be some dossers around pushing him to the ring again.

“As a friend, I will do my best to convince him to retire,” he concluded.

BOXING

Jake Paul is a tougher opponent for Anthony Joshua than

Anthony Joshua fight can absolutely happen, says Paul’s manager

Jake Paul’s manager Nakisa Bidarian has told Sky Sports he is holding talks about a blockbuster fight with Anthony Joshua.

Joshua, who has not fought since losing to Daniel Dubois in September last year, underwent elbow surgery in May but is targeting a return to the ring later in 2025.

JUST IN: Jake Paul faces competition for Anthony Joshua fight as new

Since then, YouTuber-turned-professional boxer Paul beat veterans Mike Tyson and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. at heavyweight and cruiserweight respectively.

After defeating Chavez by unanimous decision last month, Paul audaciously called for a showdown with Joshua and has met with Turki Alalshikh to try and make it happen.

“I think the fight can absolutely happen,” Bidarian told Sky Sports News. “I’m looking at it as Jake versus Joshua, which is quite biblical, and it’s quite impactful in many ways.

“I think size wise, we can get comfortable with it, and I think experience wise, Jake is learning very fast and growing, and Joshua is a little long in the tooth. So it could be a very interesting matchup, and we’re actively discussing it with Matchroom.

“I think we’re looking at it happening at the start of 2026. It’s public that AJ was taking a little time away, I think he had a little surgery. So once he’s ready, and once Jake is ready, we’re going to squarely focus on that.

“It’s a fight that Jake wants to do, and that’s a discussion we’ve had at length, and he feels very confident about where he is in his career and his chances of upsetting Anthony Joshua.”

There are plenty of concerns over whether Paul will be able to make the step up to take on a world-leading heavyweight like Joshua, but Bidarian is adamant his star client would not take the fight if he wasn’t ready.

“Power is obviously the last thing to go,” he added. “So obviously, AJ has a ton of power, and he’s still fairly young. Mike Tyson – much more vicious of a knockout artist than Anthony Joshua – that was a risk Jake was willing to take.

“Francis Ngannou, amazing MMA fighter, very powerful man, but not an experienced boxer, right? He is a lot less experienced than Jake Paul. So if people were comfortable with Francis getting in there with AJ, Jake, who is now 13 fights in, plus one amateur fight, then we are comfortable with this.

“Wembley’s definitely a possibility. Jake said he’d like to do it there. He likes the idea of going in and hearing 90,000 people booing him!”

Tyson Fury is currently retired from boxing but has teased a return to the sport, and promoter Hearn is still keen to make a Joshua-Fury fight.

“AJ has been out [of action] for coming up to a year in September, so we definitely want to fight again,” Hearn said earlier this month.

Hearn: A chance to ‘extinguish’ Jake Paul from world of boxing

Paul propelled himself to fame on YouTube but has now won 12 fights after launching his boxing career in 2020.

The 28-year-old suffered defeat to Tommy Fury in 2023 but has gone on to beat former UFC star Nate Diaz, professional American boxers Andre August and Ryan Bourland, plus former UFC fighter Mike Perry.

A controversially-sanctioned bout against Tyson is Paul’s only heavyweight fight so far, before he stepped down to cruiserweight against Chavez.

“AJ-Paul is never a fight we anticipated, and it’s never a fight we’ve targeted,” Hearn added. “But if you want Jake Paul to be the warm-up fight [for Tyson Fury] – and obviously, financially, it’s a great opportunity for AJ – and you want to provide AJ with the opportunity to extinguish Jake Paul from the world of boxing, then maybe AJ would oblige.

“Jake’s a big, strong cruiserweight. I don’t think he’s particularly competitive, but we know in the world we live in, a lot of people would watch it.

“It may be the biggest fight that can be made, bizarrely, in the sport. I’m not going to sit here and tell you, ‘yeah, it’s a great challenge’.

“I think he gets flattened ASAP, but there’ll be a huge amount of people globally that would want to watch that.

“We’ll see. His Excellency said to us, ‘would you be interested in making the fight?’ I can’t say no, because until we know the proposal, maybe. And if Jake Paul is crazy enough to step in the ring with Anthony Joshua, and he might be, because of the amount of money that will be at stake, who knows? You could see AJ against Jake Paul next.”

BOXING

Jake Paul faces competition for Anthony Joshua fight as new

Jake Paul faces competition for Anthony Joshua fight as new rival emerges

Tony Yoka is eager to derail Jake Paul’s plans to face Anthony Joshua by challenging the two-time heavyweight champion himself.

Yoka – who claimed Olympic gold in Rio – appeared destined for greatness following his professional debut in 2017, but the previously unbeaten heavyweight endured three consecutive losses to Martin Bakole, Carlos Takam and Ryad Merhy.

READ: [VIDEO] The Blueprint To Beat Crawford: How Madrimov’s Performance Against ‘Bud’ Gave Canelo A…

He has since clawed his way back into contention with victories over Amine Boucetta, Lamah Griggs and Arslan Yallyev. Following those three triumphs, the Frenchman secured a lucrative deal with Queensberry Promotions as he seeks to re-establish himself as a heavyweight threat.

After the announcement, speculation regarding a potential clash between Yoka and Joshua began to swirl, reports All Out Fighting. The French heavyweight was quick to respond to those rumours, telling BoxNation: “I mean, I heard some rumours about it. I believe in my team.

“I believe in Queensberry, my manager and my coach to do the best fights for me. I’m not in any talks with him so I don’t know what’s going on. What I know is that I’m getting ready for anybody and after this big win, if they ask or propose me to fight Joshua, of course. That would be a great, great fight for me to take.”

Joshua has remained inactive since his crushing loss to Daniel Dubois in September 2024 – but is eyeing a comeback before the end of the year. While Yoka reckons Joshua might have bigger fish to fry, the 33-year-old Frenchman would jump at the chance to square off against ‘AJ’ without hesitation.

“There is a history behind it as two Olympic gold medalists. I think that’s something that makes sense,” he continued. “I saw him fight some guys that I didn’t even know. I think it was just before Otto Wallin he fought a guy, I don’t know the guy [Joshua beat Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius]. I understand that he lost against Dubois last year. They might want to do something like Joshua-Fury or whatever. You want a fight before that, I’m here. You don’t have to look like too far from there.”

A potential clash between Joshua and Yoka could deal a massive setback to Paul. The YouTuber-turned-boxer and the British heavyweight have verbally committed to a bout. During a recent Sky Sports interview, Paul’s promoter and business partner – Nakisa Bidarian – disclosed that he’s in talks with Eddie Hearn and that the encounter could materialise much earlier than expected.

“I think the fight can absolutely happen,” he said. “I’m looking at it as Jake versus Joshua, which is quite biblical, and it’s quite impactful in many ways. I think size wise, we can get comfortable with it, and I think experience wise, Jake is learning very fast and growing, and Joshua is a little long in the tooth. So it could be a very interesting matchup, and we’re actively discussing it with Matchroom.

“I think we’re looking at it happening at the start of 2026. It’s public that AJ was taking a little time away, I think he had a little surgery. So once he’s ready, and once Jake is ready, we’re going to squarely focus on that. It’s a fight that Jake wants to do, and that’s a discussion we’ve had at length, and he feels very confident about where he is in his career and his chances of upsetting Anthony Joshua.”

When is Jake Paul’s next fight?

After making a successful comeback to the ring in June, Paul is keen to keep the momentum going. The American is now able to compete for a world title, having been ranked in the WBC’s cruiserweight listings after his victory over Chavez Jr.

The manager of the 28-year-old fighter revealed that his client is keen to compete for a world title ‘as soon as possible’. However, he concedes it’s unlikely to be his next match, considering the current landscape at 200lbs. “Absolutely [he will fight again this year]. November or December,” Bidarian informed Ariel Helwani when queried about Paul’s forthcoming plans.

“I’m meeting him tonight for dinner, and we’ll discuss [his next opponent]. The only certainty right now is that Jake is eager to compete for a belt at the earliest opportunity. I need to have a chat with him, I reckon it’s a tall order this year [to box for a world title]. Badou Jack is the one he’s most interested in taking on, but he’s obligated to a rematch with the bloke he just defeated [Noel Mikaelian] for the WBC. I’m not sure if a title bout is feasible this year, but we’ll see.”

GOLF

Why Rory McIlroy ‘reluctant’ to return to the USA ahead of

Rory McIlroy ‘reluctant’ to return to the USA ahead of Ryder Cup, says golf reporter

Rory McIlroy is reluctant to return to America after spending a month in the UK for The Open Championship, according to a golf reporter.

McIlroy played in The Open Championship at his home course, Royal Portrush, to round off the major season. 2025 saw McIlroy complete the career Grand Slam at the Masters, and he returned home a hero.

READ: Amanda Balionis and Rory McIlroy impact…See more

He now heads back to America for the Ryder Cup in New York, as Europe look to double down on their humiliation of Team USA in Rome. But Jamie Weir said that after speaking to McIlroy, he is reluctant to go back.

Rory McIlroy ‘reluctant’ to return to America after hometown reception

Five-time major winner McIlroy said he wanted to hide from the stresses of the PGA Tour before the Genesis Scottish Open. He was snappy with the media after winning the Masters, but appeared to be far happier after his return to Europe.

That said, Weir said McIlroy was not pleased to be heading back stateside. On the Sky Sports Golf podcast, he said, “Speaking to Rory, he’s really endured being back this side of the pond for a few weeks.

“The Open Championship, okay he might not have lifted the Claret Jug, but just feeling the love and what he means to the people of Northern Ireland was a massive, massive feather in his cap.

“I think he’s really enjoyed being over here and he’s slightly reluctant to get back to the States. I think that goes for quite a few European golfers.”

McIlroy said he spoke to Englishman Justin Rose about how happy he was to be back in Europe on the journey to the Scottish Open. He’ll be back for the Irish Open and the BMW PGA Championship in early September, but his thoughts are on the Ryder Cup.

Weir continued, “For Rory, it’s all about trying to conserve his energy because the big one circled in red on the calendar for Rory is Bethpage at the end of September. That is the number one goal: win a Ryder Cup on U.S. soil.”

Rory McIlroy looks to complete US humiliation at the Ryder Cup

McIlroy turned his attention to the Ryder Cup immediately after The Open. As Team USA look to avenge their humiliation in Rome, Europe and McIlroy hope to pile on their misery in front of their home fans.

The Americans are faced with a complex selection process, as captain Keegan Bradley decides whether to pick himself to become the first playing captain since 1963. It’s less complicated for Europe, who can focus on the task at hand.

McIlroy played when Europe last won in America. It was “The Miracle at Medinah”, where Europe staged one of the greatest comebacks in Ryder Cup history, rallying from a 10–6 deficit on the final day with a dominant singles performance.

McIlroy was involved in final-day drama. He arrived just in time for his singles match after confusion about his tee time, but still defeated Bradley.

Last time the Ryder Cup was in New York, Europe pulled off another comeback win. A victory for Europe could plunge the Americans into crisis, and that’s exactly what McIlroy plans to do.

BOXING

[VIDEO] The Blueprint To Beat Crawford: How Madrimov’s Performance Against ‘Bud’ Gave Canelo A…See More

Israil Madrimov created the blueprint on how to defeat Terence Crawford a year ago, bringing him down to Earth in front of a large crowd on August 3rd, 2024, in Los Angeles.

What Madrimov created with that performance was a perfect plan on how to solve the Crawford puzzle that had confused 40 of his previous opponents.

CRAWFORD’S VULNERABILITIES EXPOSED BY MADRIMOV

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Although Crawford won a 12-round unanimous decision by the scores 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113, fans saw it as a victory or, at the minimum, a draw for Madrimov. It didn’t matter that the A-side fighter with all the backing, Crawford, won; the blueprint on how to defeat him had been created by Israil.

Canelo Alvarez and his trainer, Eddy Reynoso, have been studying Madrimov’s performance against Crawford, learning from the technical guru to come up with ideas to use for their September 13th fight in Las Vegas.

There’s a lot Alvarez and the eagle-eyed Reynoso can get from the battle to use against Crawford. Terence’s age, inactivity, and moving up in weight from 147 to 154 also played a small part in Madrimov’s exposing him. Mostly, the flaws in his game were revealed by the more technically skilled Eastern European fighter.

By the midpoint of that fight, Crawford looked lost. You could see the way he was speaking to his trainer, Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre, in between rounds that he was desperate for answers. But none were forthcoming from BoMac, as he had no idea what to do.

After the sixth, BoMac said, ‘Just box him.’ That didn’t work because in the seventh, Madrimov nailed him with four consecutive right hands, one after another. Each punch snapped Crawford’s head back, making him resemble a bobblehead.

HOW MADRIMOV SOLVED THE CRAWFORD PUZZLE

The former amateur star, Madrimov (10-2-1, 7 KOs) showed that Crawford (41-0, 31 kOs) can be beaten by pressure, feints, precise potshot punching. Bud is a counter-puncher who thrived on taking advantage of his opponents’ throwing combinations. Madrimov didn’t do that.

He focused on throwing single power shots to catch Crawford napping. Israil’s footwork also played a part in what many fans felt was a deserved victory. He kept Terence guessing with his movement, because he never knew when the Uzbekistan native would attack him.