BOXING
Mayweather to fight Alvarez
Floyd Mayweather Jr will fight young Mexican star Canelo Alvarez on Sept. 14 at the MGM Grand. “I chose my opponent for September 14th and it’s Canelo Alvarez,” Mayweather said on Wednesday night on Twitter. “I’m giving the fans what they want. It will be at the MGM Grand.” Alvarez sent a tweet in Spanish announcing the fight. The 36-year-old Mayweather is unbeaten in 44 fights, the last a unanimous 12-round decision over Robert Guerrero on May 4 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in defense of his WBC welterweight title fight. Alvarez is 42-0-1. The 22-year-old fighter unified the WBC and WBA super welterweight titles on April 20 in San Antonio with a unanimous victory over Austin Trout. The fight will be contested at a catch weight of 69kg and offers a rare bout between two unbeaten fighters in their primes.
BASKETBALL
Schmidt has second brain op
Hall of Famer Oscar Schmidt is recovering from a second brain operation to treat cancer. Doctors say the 55-year-old Brazilian is doing well, but is undergoing chemotherapy to try to contain a malign tumor in his brain. He first underwent surgery in 2011, when doctors said the tumor was benign, but another operation was needed last month after the tumor started to grow again. Oscar led Brazil to an improbable gold medal in the 1987 Pan-American Games, stunning the US in the final. The ceremony for his induction into the Hall of Fame is scheduled for September. Doctor Marcos de Queiroz Teles Gomes told the Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper on Wednesday that Oscar “would be in condition” to attend the ceremony.
RUGBY UNION
Bulls eyeing domination
South Africa’s Bulls can follow New Zealand side the Chiefs in cementing their regional dominance in the Super XV with a win over nearest rivals the Cheetahs in the last match of the weekend tomorrow. The Hamilton-based Chiefs defeated the Christchurch-based Crusaders last weekend to stretch their lead to 10 points in the New Zealand conference. If the Pretoria-based Bulls can beat the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein tomorrow they could establish a lead of similar magnitude in South Africa, leaving only the Australian region in dispute as the tournament nears its break for next month’s internationals. The ACT Brumbies currently enjoy a five-point lead over the Queensland Reds in the Australian conference, a gap which depends on the outcome of matches this weekend between the Brumbies and the Wellington-based Hurricanes, and the Reds and the Melbourne Rebels.
CRICKET
Ahmed could make Ashes
Leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed’s path to the Australia squad for the Ashes series could be cleared as early as next week after the government introduced legislation yesterday that enables them to fast-track citizenship in special cases. Pakistan-born Ahmed arrived in Australia in 2010, before claiming asylum as a refugee on the grounds that he had been subject to death threats from Islamic extremists for being involved with a non-governmental organiztion promoting women’s rights. Former Australia Test batsman Damien Martyn rates him as the best “Australian” spinner since the great Shane Warne. Under International Cricket Council residency rules because he is not a citizen he would not become eligible for selection for Australia until Aug. 18, three days before the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval in London. The bill is expected to go to the vote next week.
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
RSS