Challenging Sign: Raducanu &#8216;getting back to best&#8217; but edged out by Sabalenka

Challenging Sign: Raducanu ‘getting back to best’ but edged out by Sabalenka

Britain’s Emma Raducanu fell agonisingly short of beating world number one Aryna Sabalenka and earning a statement win at the Cincinnati Open.

Raducanu, 22, lost 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 7-6 (7-5) as defending champion Sabalenka edged a battle lasting more than three hours to reach the fourth round.

Having also pushed Sabalenka at Wimbledon, Raducanu’s performance was further evidence she can severely test the world’s best as her revival continues.

This season, with the British number one’s fitness issues largely behind her and the development of greater resilience, she has climbed back into the top 40.

“As I said at Wimbledon I am really happy to see her healthy – mentally and physically,” said Sabalenka.

“Every time she is improving and I can see she is getting back to her best.

“I’m enjoying fighting against her – she is such an incredible player.”

Raducanu could be seeded among the leading 32 players at the upcoming US Open, providing a more favourable draw – in theory at least – at the hard-court Grand Slam which she won as a teenage qualifier in 2021.

Signs that Raducanu can challenge the best

With her service game providing a strong foundation, backed by calmness and clarity from the baseline, a tense contest in a sweltering Cincinnati could easily have gone her way.

Sabalenka was well below her best level throughout, with the powerful baseline game which has delivered three major titles looking vulnerable and erratic.

Raducanu, who was guided vocally throughout by her new coach Francisco Roig, took full advantage.

Roig was part of the team which helped Rafael Nadal win the bulk of his 22 major titles, and his forensic attention to detail was clear throughout the match.

Regular instructions came about the pattern of Raducanu’s serve and the shape of her forehand, while she also responded well when he implemented some positive reinforcement.

“You’re better than her,” was one of the 57-year-old Spaniard’s messages to the player.

In the past Raducanu has wilted in similarly intense battles and equally draining conditions.

BOXING

Hall of famer Andre Ward Has Revealed That One Fight That

Hall of famer Andre Ward Has Revealed That One Fight That Could Tempt Him Back Into The Ring, Me And Anthony Joshua

Boxing Hall of Famer Andre Ward has sent shockwaves through the combat sports world by revealing the one fight that could lure him out of retirement — a blockbuster showdown with former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium.

Ward, 41, retired undefeated in 2017 with a record of 32–0, cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s most technically gifted fighters. Known for his defensive mastery, ring intelligence, and adaptability, the former super middleweight and light heavyweight champion has consistently resisted calls for a comeback — until now.

In a recent interview, Ward admitted that while most fights don’t interest him, the idea of facing Joshua in front of a roaring U.K. crowd would be enough to reignite his competitive fire.

“Me and Anthony Joshua“

“Me and Anthony Joshua — that is a fight I would take at Wembley Stadium,” Ward said. “If I’m ever coming back, it would have to be for something truly special, and that’s one of the few that fits the bill.”

Davis’s Legal Troubles Cast Shadow Over A Recent

Davis’s Legal Troubles Cast Shadow Over A Recent Battery Arrest On June 15—have stirred further uncertainty about the bout’s future

The future of the long-awaited rematch between Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Lamont Roach Jr. has been thrown into deeper uncertainty following Davis’s recent run-in with the law.

On June 15, the undefeated lightweight star was arrested on battery charges, marking the latest in a string of off-ring legal issues. The arrest has reignited concerns over whether the fight—once scheduled for this summer—will move forward at all.

Davis, a three-division world champion known for his devastating knockout power, was already facing scrutiny after the controversial outcome of his March 1, 2025, bout with Roach, which ended in a majority draw. The contentious decision, fueled by debate over a ninth-round knockdown, led to intense calls for an immediate rematch. That bout was initially set for August, but scheduling hurdles and now Davis’s legal troubles have left the fight in limbo.

The Highly Anticipated Rematch Between Davis vs. Roach

The Highly Anticipated Rematch Between Davis vs. Roach Plunged Into Uncertainty as August Date Falls Through

The highly anticipated rematch between Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Lamont Roach Jr. is now shrouded in uncertainty, with no official date in sight.

Once touted as one of the biggest fights of the summer, the bout was initially penciled in for August after a heated first encounter on March 1, 2025, ended in a controversial majority draw. The result—fueled by debate over a ninth-round knockdown that many believe should have been scored for Roach—set the stage for what was expected to be a blockbuster return clash.

But those plans have since unraveled. The August target date has been scrapped, and according to insiders, neither Premier Boxing Champions nor the fighters’ camps have confirmed a new timeline for the fight. Lamont Roach Sr., who also serves as his son’s trainer, recently acknowledged that no concrete arrangements are in place.

Oleksandr Usyk gives verdict on Moses Itauma as Turki Alalshikh

Oleksandr Usyk gives verdict on Moses Itauma as Turki Alalshikh pitches massive showdown

Literally everybody is raving about British heavyweight sensation Moses Itauma – even the best fighter on the planet right now.

Oleksandr Usyk is not only the undisputed world heavyweight champion right for the second time in just over a year, he is also the consensus P4P top fighter in the world in any division.

JUST IN: VIDEOS: Terence Crawford’s smashed greatest rival to achieve his

The 38-year-old has clearly been watching the rise of the 20-year-old Itauma as the phenom from Chatham in Kent continues to build towards the top level.

READ MORE: Moses Itauma SCHOOLS critics with genius response over ‘chin check’

‘Enriko’, as he is known, has built a 12-0 professional record with 10 of those wins coming inside the first two rounds. One devastating highlight reel finish after another.

Itauma is already ranked number 1 by the WBO (World Boxing Organization) and a world title shot appears to be on the cards sooner rather than later. When Usyk flattened Daniel Dubois last month to become undisputed, Saudi power broker Turki Alalshikh was quick to suggest that a showdown with Itauma is THE FIGHT that boxing wants and needs.

Itauma himself has been quick to suggest that his skillset is on a par with Usyk or better, but admits he needs more rounds and experience to get that championship level of endurance and mindset.

Usyk on Moses Itauma

As for Usyk, he is clearly very very impressed by the young prodigy, who mixes devastating speed and power with a remarkable ring IQ for one so young.

He told talkSPORT: “Moses Itauma. I think he is a great fighter. Young, 20 years, yes? I think Itauma has a big future.”

It remains to be seen whether that future includes a blockbusting showdown vs Usyk, but before that Moses will take a big step up in class when he meets former world title challenger Dillian Whyte in a crossroads matchup in Riyadh next Saturday night (August 16).

Itauma will start a hot favourite against a man who just three years ago was challenging Tyson Fury for the WBC heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium. Now at the age of 37, and relatively inactive since that night, there are question marks about what Whyte has left.

We will find out the answer to that question in a few days, but many expect him to give Itauma his biggest test yet.

BOXING

VIDEOS: Terence Crawford’s smashed greatest rival to achieve his

Terence Crawford’s smashed greatest rival to achieve historic feat since replicated by two legendary fighters

On September 13, two of the very best of their era will meet for the first time.

While Terence Crawford has admitted that both he and Canelo Alvarez need to step it up ahead of their clash next month, the fight is still absolutely massive.

Unlike his opponent, ‘Bud’ brings an undefeated record to the ring, with 41 wins (31 via knockout) since making his pro debut in 2008.

JUST IN: Gervonta Davis Names The Only Fighter Whose Power

Crawford may have earned just $125,000 for his first major win, but he’s come a long way since initially putting himself on the map by beating Breidis Prescott.

In a fight where some expected that he would finally meet his equal, the Nebraska native proved a lot of people wrong by putting on a historic masterclass.

Terence Crawford became the first two-weight undisputed champion when he outclassed Errol Spence Jr.

For many years, one of the fights that was right at the top of a lot of fans’ wish list was Terence Crawford taking on Errol Spence Jr.

With the fight seemingly being spoken about and negotiated for long periods of time without coming to fruition, it looked like this huge clash may end up going down as a huge bout that got away due to boxing politics.

Eventually, they met inside the ring on July 29 of 2023, where despite his opponent’s long periods of inactivity in recent times due to several health issues, no one could have expected what Crawford would go on to do.

‘Bud’ produced what many believe is the best performance of his career by outclassing Spence Jr. before he stopped him in the ninth round.

Having won the WBA, WBC, IBF and the vacant The Ring belt in the process, adding to his WBO title, Crawford made history with this victory as the first fighter in the ‘four belt era’ to become undisputed in two weight classes.

After he accomplished this feat at both light welterweight and welterweight, two other fighters who are right at the top of the pound-for-pound list with Crawford have gone on to do the same.

Naoya Inoue achieved this at bantamweight and super bantamweight with just one year separating the two accomplishments.

Oleksandr Usyk also wrote his name into the history books when he replicated his incredible run at cruiserweight by beating Tyson Fury for the first time in May of 2024 to claim the WBC heavyweight title.

Terence Crawford admitted feeling relieved after putting his rivalry with Errol Spence Jr. to bed

Terence Crawford has never been the most animated fighter when it comes to reading his emotions before, after, or during a fight.

In an appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, he spoke about how some people claimed that he didn’t look happy after beating Errol Spence Jr.

He responded to this by claiming that after chasing the fight for such a long time, he was both happy and relieved to have finally moved past this chapter.

“When you go in the back room, everybody wants to see excitement. I was just like, ‘Ah, I got that off my back.’ It was a sign of relief.”

Even if he emerges victorious in another legacy-defining fight on September 13, fans can expect to see the same calm and collected Crawford that they’re used to.

BOXING

Gervonta Davis Names The Only Fighter Whose Power

Gervonta Davis Names The Only Fighter Whose Power Had Him In Trouble

Gervonta Davis has revealed the only fighter to have ever caused him some trouble in the ring.

The unbeaten 30-year-old from Baltimore, Maryland currently reigns as the WBA lightweight champion, a title he has held since he defeated Yuriorkis Gamboa back in December of 2019.

Aside from reigning as a world champion at 135lbs, ‘Tank’ has also captured world titles at super-featherweight and super-lightweight, defeating the likes of Leo Santa Cruz, Isaac Cruz and Ryan Garcia along the way.

JUST IN: Joshua Accused of ‘Selling His Soul’ Amid

He came very close to being handed the first defeat of his career back in March when he fought to a majority decision draw against fellow countryman Lamont Roach, although many fans and analysts believed the challenger had done more than enough to get his hand raised.

Speaking to the media just before his controversial showdown with Roach, Davis paid homage to the punching power of former rival Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero, as he claims the 29-year-old has ‘bricks in his hands’.

“I ain’t gonna lie, Rolly hit hard, people are sleeping on Rolly. He hasn’t got a chin so Rolly gets caught but he can hit. He’s the only person I have felt, when he swung it felt like there were bricks in his hands.”

Davis handed ‘Rolly’ the first defeat of his career when they clashed back in May of 2022, stopping his rival in the sixth round of their bout at the Barclays Center in New York City.

Since facing Davis, Romero has made the move up to welterweight where he picked up the best win of his career earlier this year, defeating Ryan Garcia to capture the regular version of the WBA world welterweight title on May 2.

BOXING

Joshua Accused of ‘Selling His Soul’ Amid

Joshua Accused of ‘Selling His Soul’ Amid Jake Paul Fight Talks

Anthony Joshua has been accused of ‘selling his soul’ as talk over a potential fight with Jake Paul heats up.

Joshua is looking for his next opponent after having been knocked out by Daniel Dubois in his last fight. Prior to the fight, Joshua expressed his desire to become a three-weight world champion as the IBF belt was up for grabs. Joshua has undergone elbow surgery after picking up an injury following the Dubois fight, as the attention turns to his next fight. Joshua had been vocal about his desire to fight Tyson Fury, but the latter’s retirement means that is now off the table.

Joshua has previously boxed Francis Ngannou, knocking him out in the second round. The fight was questioned since Ngannou only had one fight before this, losing to Tyson Fury in a split decision. However, facing Paul races further questions. Paul’s resume is filled mostly with wins against non-pro boxers, losing to Tommy Fury, the first pro boxer he faced. Paul is also coming off a unanimous decision win against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. While Paul fight will no doubt earn Joshua a massive payday, former UFC fighter Molly McCann has accused AJ of selling out.

READ: Jake Paul scores first blood in Gervonta Davis

“I’m not here for it. He’s selling his soul for money, do you know what I mean? It’s like what, lad, have you not got enough? […] Turn it in lad. Why don’t we just leave this stuff alone?,” McCann said

Consequences

The long-term consequence of this could be damning. If top fighters are consistently choosing these “gimmick” fights over challenging contenders, it devalues world titles and makes the path to becoming a champion less meaningful. A fight with Paul, no matter the financial gain, does nothing to enhance Joshua’s legacy.

A fight between Joshua and Paul also raises serious concerns about fighter safety. While Paul has been a consistent presence in boxing for a few years, he is still a developing fighter with a limited skillset compared to a two-time former unified heavyweight champion. Joshua is a power-punching heavyweight with an Olympic gold medal and years of experience at the highest level of professional boxing. Paul, by contrast, has been knocking out people who are not, and were never, professional boxers.

The potential fight also creates a problematic narrative for boxing’s future. The rise of social media influencers in boxing, however, shifts the focus from the sport itself to the personalities involved. Instead of drawing fans in with the promise of a classic showdown between two of the best heavyweights, a Joshua-Paul fight markets itself on the notoriety of one fighter and the star power of the other. It reduces boxing to a celebrity event.

GOLF

Tiger Woods:3 PGA Tour rule changes influenced by

3 PGA Tour rule changes influenced by LIV but Tiger Woods demand is step too far

From billion-dollar investments to overhauled pace-of-play policies, the PGA Tour continues to modernize in 2025 under Jay Monahan’s vision, following decades of following rich traditions and pressure to change due to the disruption caused by the Saudi-backed tour LIV Golf.

When golf fans picture the PGA Tour, they think of prestige and stars like Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, and Jack Nicklaus in collared shirts, creased slacks, and hats. But 2025 has blown the doors off tradition with things like Signature Events, new equity models, and strict pace-of-play rules, all designed in response to LIV’s modernized changes.

JUST IN: Rory McIlroy has done opposite to Scottie Scheffler with

Yet a straightforward request from Tiger Woods has remained ignored for decades, as PGA players still can’t wear shorts. The man referred to as the GOAT by many, although he has his own choice for the greatest player ever, has won 82 PGA Tour events and 15 major tournaments, and he has done all this in long pants while wishing his “chicken legs” could breathe.

In a previous interview in 2018, Woods was asked if he would rather play in shorts. He replied: “I would love it. We play in some of the hottest climates on the planet.

“A lot of the tournaments are based right around the equator, so we play in some of the hottest places on the planet. It would be nice to wear shorts. Even with my little chicken legs, I still would like to wear shorts.”

As the game continues to evolve, the world’s best players are scattered across multiple tours, and golf is seeing more diversity than ever; the tour continues to see its advancement.

PGA Tour Pace of Play rules

The PGA Tour’s newest pace-of-play policy was updated in March at the request of several top stars. It limits players to 40 seconds per shot. For players who aren’t granted the additional 10 seconds for special occasions, there is now a one-stroke penalty for the first offense, two for the next, and so on.

LIV has this rule on the tour and saw its first penalty occur during the LIV Golf Andalucia at Valderrama when Richard Bland took 84 seconds to play a shot on hole 15. The veteran shot a bogey on the hole, which was upgraded to a double bogey.

PGA Tour introduced Signature Events

In 2024, the PGA launched its “Signature Events” initiative, rebranding the “Designated Events” format from 2023.

The 2025 calendar now features eight high-stakes tournaments, including The Sentry, Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational, RBC Heritage, Truist Championship, and The Memorial Tournament.

World No. 1 player Scottie Scheffler took home $4 million for his Memorial Tournament win at Muirfield Village Golf Club last May.

These events feature higher prize money ($20 million) than the regular tournament competitions outside of majors and see a smaller field of players compete for a larger prize.

Each LIV tournament already has a purse of $20 million, and winners take home $4 million of the pot.

PGA Tour Player Equity

One of the most groundbreaking moves saw the PGA Tour extend ownership equity to nearly 200 members for the first time. On Jan. 31, 2024, a $3 billion partnership with Strategic Sports Group officially gave players a piece of the pie.

Woods and Tour Player Directors Patrick Cantlay, Peter Malnati, Adam Scott, Webb Simpson, and Jordan Spieth helped finalize the deal, ensuring pros had a stake in the product they built.

TENNIS

‘He’s More Scared of Us’ – Coco Gauff Details

‘He’s More Scared of Us’ – Coco Gauff Details Alligator Encounter During Bold Florida Trip With Boyfriend Jalen Sera

Coco Gauff recently gave fans a peek into her adventurous side, recalling a close encounter with an alligator during a serene canoe ride in Florida. Following her Wimbledon heartbreak, the 21-year-old enjoyed a nature-filled trip with her boyfriend, Jalen Sera.

What Wild Twist Surprised Coco Gauff and Jalen Sera on Their Florida Trip?

The break came after a tough early exit at Wimbledon, where Gauff suffered a first-round loss to Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska. With her grass-court season cut short, the World No. 2 opted to recharge before the North American hard-court swing.

READ: Coco Gauff still alive in Montreal despite

Her time off included a star-studded date night with boyfriend at Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour in Atlanta and a quiet escape to Central Florida’s springs. The latter, however, brought an unexpected thrill in the form of an alligator sighting during a canoe ride.

The trip allowed her to unwind before key tournaments in Montreal, Cincinnati, and the US Open. Speaking to Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj after her second-round win over Wang Xinyu at the ongoing Cincinnati Open, Gauff shared highlights from her time away. “It was great. I was home, so I was able to get my life organized from being in Europe basically two months. So, I just felt organized,” she said.

“But then, I got to go see Beyoncé, which was really cool. Got to meet Miss Tina, her mom, which was awesome. And we were up there watching, I was in the same area as Tyler Perry and Summer Walker. So, that was also really cool for me.”

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Her Florida getaway turned into an unforgettable experience. “We went kayaking. I was out there with the gators. I was swimming in the springs and it was great. I saw a gator like while we were in the kayak,” Gauff recalled.

When asked if she was afraid, she explained, “No. I trusted our guide, and he was like, ‘If you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you.’ And we were swimming in the same direction, and then the gator kind of saw that, and then he turned around and went the other way. I think he’s more scared of us. But I was on the kayak, so I felt okay.”

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A post shared by Coco Gauff (@cocogauff)

She added: “Now, if I was swimming, which I did, but it was in a different spring where gators are less common, it was cool. It was good to reconnect with nature and yeah, I would do it again.”

Gauff advanced to the third round in Cincinnati, where she will take on 32nd seed Yastremska in a rematch of their Wimbledon clash. The winner of this match will face either Lucia Bronzetti or 23rd seed Jeļena Ostapenko in the Round of 16.