Fabio Wardley will defend his WBO heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois in a massive all-British clash at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena on Saturday, 9 May.

The unbeaten champion is making the first defence of his belt against his domestic rival in a bout promising destructive power.

High stakes surround this encounter, with the victor potentially lining up a blockbuster showdown against Tyson Fury later this year.

Eyes on the ultimate prize

Fury has admitted he is open to facing the winner, provided they emerge victorious from this domestic dust-up.

Wardley secured the WBO crown in November after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the strap rather than facing a mandatory defence against the Ipswich fighter.

Now, the 31-year-old is looking to cement his legacy by choosing a voluntary defence against one of the division’s heaviest hitters.

“I’ve never been in this game to mess around or play small. Big fights only!”

Fabio Wardley

The champion remains supremely confident in his matchmaking decisions.

“I’m the champion, this is a voluntary defence. I picked him. One thing you can’t say about me is that I’ve ever shied away from a challenge.”

Redemption and knockouts

Dubois is aiming to reclaim world champion status following the end of his IBF reign.

The Londoner suffered a knockout defeat to Usyk in their Wembley rematch last July but has rebuilt his team ahead of this explosive challenge.

Following a brief split, the former champion has reunited with trainer Don Charles to prepare for the trip to Manchester.

Both men enter the ring in ominous form.

The WBO king has stopped every opponent since turning professional, including a stunning 11th-round finish of Joseph Parker to claim the interim title.

Meanwhile, the challenger had been on a tear prior to his loss against the Ukrainian, having demolished Anthony Joshua in a career-best performance in September 2024.

“With me you’re always guaranteed an all-action fight, but this one is going to be fireworks from the first bell.”

Fabio Wardley

Wardley’s manager, Mike Ofo, believes the pressure will be too much for the challenger.

“This is a huge moment – a massive all-British clash, and I expect Fabio to break Daniel Dubois’ spirit on May 9th.”

The stakes could not be higher for the hosts as they look to salvage their Six Nations campaign against their oldest rivals.

Sione Tuipulotu has described his side as a "desperate team" as he issued a rallying cry to supporters ahead of the high-stakes Calcutta Cup meeting with England at Murrayfield.

The Glasgow Warriors centre is clearly still reeling from the nightmare start to the championship in Rome last weekend.

Italy outsmarted the visitors at a sodden Stadio Olimpico to claim a deserved victory, leaving the Scots’ title hopes hanging by a thread.

The 29-year-old struck a defiant figure during his pre-match media conference, avoiding the usual platitudes often heard when backs are firmly against the wall.

Honesty amidst the storm

Tuipulotu pulled no punches regarding how difficult the week has been following the defeat to the Azzurri.

He acknowledged that a reaction is non-negotiable against their southern neighbours on Saturday as their campaign dangles on a cliff edge.

Despite a run of damaging results, the midfielder insisted that belief and confidence remain intact within the camp.

He also offered a stinging response to media coverage he feels has been excessively critical of the squad and head coach Gregor Townsend.

Rallying the weary faithful

Tension currently surrounds the national set-up as they attempt to salvage their season.

To turn the situation around, the skipper believes the players must reconnect with a fanbase that has grown increasingly sceptical.

"It’s obviously a game that means a lot to the country, and one that we really lean into," said Tuipulotu.

"Ever since I arrived in Scotland, I know this is the biggest fixture of the year for everyone, for the supporters especially."

He emphasised that the squad must deliver a performance primarily for those in the stands.

"That’s my main message – although the last three or four games have been really tough for especially us, there’s a lot of supporters that haven’t quit on us. They’re the ones that we’re going to go out there and do it for."

Sione Tuipulotu, Scotland Captain

Facing an in-form enemy

While the hosts are searching for answers, Steve Borthwick’s side arrive in Edinburgh with the wind in their sails.

The visitors are currently riding the momentum of a formidable 12-game winning streak.

England have begun to rebuild an aura of invincibility that had been lacking in their performances in recent years.

Tuipulotu drew parallels between his side’s current predicament and the struggles their opponents faced not long ago, noting how quickly fortunes can change in international rugby.

The International Skating Union has steadfastly defended the ice dance scoring at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, despite a French judge’s marks playing a decisive role in denying the United States gold.

Controversy erupted in Milan after marks awarded by judge Jezabel Dabouis helped Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron defeat American rivals Madison Chock and Evan Bates.

Dabouis favored the French duo by nearly eight points over the three-time world champions in the free dance segment.

Statistical analysis suggests that if the French official’s score were removed entirely, Chock and Bates would have topped the podium.

‘Complete commitment to fairness’

The global governing body has moved quickly to dismiss allegations of impropriety regarding the final results.

In a statement, the ISU insisted that variations in scoring across a panel are standard practice within the sport.

“It is normal for there to be a range of scores given by different judge in any panel and a number of mechanism are used to mitigate these variations.”

The organisation added that it holds “full confidence in the scores given and remains completely committed to fairness.”

Despite the reassurance, the silver medallists from the United States have little recourse if the federation refuses to investigate the discrepancy further.

‘A disservice to our sport’

This is not the first instance where Dabouis has awarded favourable marks to Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron.

At the Grand Prix Final in December, the same official scored the Americans narrowly ahead in the free dance, despite the French pair suffering two deductions and a significant fall.

Chock, who had already secured a team gold earlier in the Games, expressed frustration at the lack of clarity for spectators.

“Any time the public is confused by results, it does a disservice to our sport.”

The veteran skater believes that such confusion alienates the fanbase.

“I think it’s hard to retain fans when it’s difficult to understand what is happening on the ice.”

Echoes of Salt Lake City

The current judging storm has drawn uncomfortable comparisons to the sport’s most notorious scandal.

During the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, a French judge was found guilty of misconduct after allegations of vote-swapping involving Russian and Canadian pairs.

That incident led to the suspension of Marie-Reine Le Gougne and a complete overhaul of the scoring system two years later.

While the 6.0 system was scrapped to reduce subjectivity, critics argue the current component score model still allows for confusing discrepancies.

Tyson Fury has been urged to abandon hopes of a third fight with Oleksandr Usyk despite confirming his ring return against Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov this April.

The ‘Gypsy King’ is targeting vengeance after suffering his first two career defeats to the Ukrainian master.

However, former world champion Barry McGuigan believes pursuing a trilogy bout would be a strategic error.

Fury has not fought for 16 months and faces questions over his physical longevity.

A risky road back

The Morecambe fighter had an unblemished record of 35 fights unbeaten before running into Usyk.

While the desire to reclaim his status is clear, the path to victory appears far narrower than it did in 2024.

McGuigan contends that Usyk has already proven he possesses the tactical blueprint to dismantle Fury.

“He proved in successive bouts that he had all the answers to Fury. At this stage of his career Fury offers little we haven’t seen before.”

Barry McGuigan

The concern is that the Briton must first prove he remains a credible force before challenging for world titles again.

The opponent dilemma

Fury’s comeback opponent has been identified as Arslanbek Makhmudov.

The Russian stands at a towering 6ft 6ins and boasts a formidable record.

Despite these statistics, critics argue Makhmudov’s upright style leaves him vulnerable to Fury’s right hand.

Makhmudov’s previous defeats came against Agit Kabayel and Guido Vianelli, suggesting he may not trouble a fully functioning Fury.

This has raised concerns that the April encounter will not provide the necessary test to gauge Fury’s post-retirement peak.

The battle against time

Boxing relies heavily on split-second distance control and spatial awareness.

These attributes are maintained only through active competition, not gym circuits.

McGuigan warns that after a long hiatus, a fighter risks being the one “getting nailed” rather than delivering the punishment.

“You can be out running, doing circuits and spending time in the gym but without sparring and fending off punches, the marginal gains you need to win against elite opponents are just not there.”

Fury relies on timing rather than brute strength to execute his game plan.

Whether the former unified champion can rediscover that rhythm in April remains the heavyweight division’s biggest question.

An emotional return to the front line

Maro Itoje has been restored to England’s starting XV for the Calcutta Cup trip to Scotland following an emotional period attending his mother’s funeral.

The England captain missed sections of the pre-tournament training camp to travel to Nigeria after the passing of his mother, Florence.

He was restricted to a replacement role during the opening weekend victory over Wales at the Allianz Stadium.

“It’s been great being back with the team,” the Saracens lock said.

“Throwing yourself into a tournament like this is perhaps one of the best ways to get your mind off things.”

The influential forward paid tribute to his late mother ahead of the trip to Edinburgh.

“My mum was a huge influence in my life. There’s not a part of my life that her hand hasn’t been on. She will be sorely missed.”

History beckons for Borthwick’s men

Steve Borthwick’s side travel north in imperious form, targeting a 13th successive Test victory.

However, they face a formidable historical barrier at Murrayfield.

The visitors have not secured a victory in the Scottish capital for six years.

“I’m massively excited. The Calcutta Cup is a historic fixture,” Itoje added.

“It is an opportunity for us as a team to write a new chapter in our book.”

Townsend fights for survival

While England arrive with momentum, the mood in the opposing camp is starkly different.

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend is facing a battle to save his job following a shock defeat by Italy in Rome during the opening round.

Despite the pressure, the former fly-half boasts an impressive recent record in this fixture.

The Scots have lifted the Calcutta Cup in six of the last eight meetings between the old rivals.

“It’s our biggest game of the season,” Townsend admitted.

“It’s even more important on the back of a loss.”

Team GB’s men fell to a 9-7 defeat against hosts Italy at the 2026 Winter Olympics after a calamitous first end saw them concede four shots.

Bruce Mouat’s rink arrived at the Cortina Curling Stadium boasting a perfect record.

They had previously dispatched defending champions Sweden, but this encounter proved a different beast entirely.

A nightmare start in Cortina

The match began in the worst possible fashion for the world’s top-ranked side.

An aggressive attempt to score two with the final stone backfired spectacularly.

An unfortunate kiss on a red stone cleared the house, allowing Italy to steal four points to the delight of a raucous home crowd.

Horns and bells rang out around the venue as the Scottish quartet were left staring at a scoreboard reading 4-0.

The horrified expressions on the British players’ faces told the story of a gamble gone wrong.

Resilience from the world number ones

Despite the horror start, the British outfit displayed the resilience of world champions.

Slowly but surely, they chipped away at the Italian lead.

A masterful shot from skip Mouat, verified by a measurement compass, helped claw back two points in the third end.

Ferocious sweeping from Hammy McMillan and Bobby Lammie then forced a steal, narrowing the gap to a single point by the break.

Remarkably, the visitors roared back to level proceedings in the ninth end, silencing the wooden bleachers.

Hosts hold their nerve

However, the fairytale comeback was denied in the tenth and final end.

Italy, who had also beaten the Swedes, held firm to secure the two points needed for victory.

“We had to dig deep and we played nine really good ends and controlled it from there, but we just couldn’t do enough to get the win,” lead Hammy McMillan told BBC Sport.

The result leaves Team GB with two wins from three round-robin matches.

Seven victories are usually required to guarantee a semi-final berth, keeping Mouat’s side in a strong position.

The men return to the ice on Saturday to face the Czech Republic at 13:05 GMT.

Norway have asserted early authority at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina, leaving the USA trailing behind the hosts as Team GB await their first podium finish.

The century-old sporting spectacle is now fully underway across northern Italy following the opening ceremony on 6 February.

Scandinavians set the pace

The Norwegians have arrived as overwhelming favourites to retain their crown as the most successful nation in the history of the competition.

Having claimed a staggering 16 golds in Beijing four years ago, the winter sports powerhouse looks poised to eclipse closest rivals Germany once again.

While the American contingent was expected to mount a fierce challenge for supremacy, they currently find themselves looking up at the host nation in the early standings.

Hosts delight home crowd

Italy have surged into the upper echelons of the table, boosting hopes of a definitive top-10 finish on home snow.

Alpine neighbours France and Switzerland are also keeping pace in what is shaping up to be a fiercely contested European battle.

Canada remains in the hunt, looking to disrupt the European dominance as the games progress.

Team GB struggle for breakthrough

The British squad has set a confident target of securing between four and eight medals during the fortnight of action.

However, the wait for silverware continues, with the team yet to register a single medal on the board.

Officials are desperate to see an improvement upon the disappointing haul of just two prizes collected in China in 2022.

A divided stage

Competition is split across four geographical zones, ranging from the ice hockey hubs of Milan to the skeleton tracks of Cortina.

Val di Fiemme is currently hosting Nordic events, while snowboarders take to the slopes of Valtellina.

With 116 medal events scheduled before the closing ceremony on 22 February, the standings remain volatile.

Tens of thousands of tickets remain unsold for Wales’ upcoming Six Nations fixtures, sparking urgent concern over the financial future of the game in the principality.

The 74,000-capacity Principality Stadium is usually a fortress of sold-out noise during the championship.

However, official figures reveal a stark disconnect between the national team and its fanbase.

As of Thursday afternoon, 15,700 seats remained empty for Sunday’s clash against France.

The situation appears even bleaker for the tournament finale, with 27,000 tickets still available for the match against Italy in March.

Even the fixture against Scotland has failed to reach capacity, with 6,700 spots left unfilled.

‘Not worth it’

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has insisted that buying habits have changed, noting that tickets are moving at a rate of 1,000 per day.

Yet, the apathy is evident at the grassroots level.

Local clubs, including Swansea and Llandaff North, have taken to social media in an attempt to shift their allocations.

With prices ranging between £40 and £120, fans are voting with their wallets.

Sean O’Sullivan, chairman of Penarth RFC, offered a damning verdict on the current value proposition.

“It’s not worth it. As a family we are going skiing in Poland for two days and it’s not costing us much more than going to Cardiff, with meals and drinks.”

Sean O’Sullivan, Penarth RFC Chairman

O’Sullivan noted that his family trip was only costing marginally more than a matchday experience in the capital.

He added that watching other nations play now feels like “watching a different sport” compared to the struggles of the national side.

Financial viability fears

This drop in demand comes against a backdrop of turmoil both on and off the pitch.

Warren Gatland’s side suffered a humiliating 48-7 defeat to England in the opening round, dampening enthusiasm further.

Meanwhile, a bitter feud over the future of the regional game continues to plague the administration.

Sports economist Professor Calvin Jones warned that the stadium is the economic engine of the sport in Wales.

“I can’t remember in my 30 years as a sports economist this happening before. The stadium is absolutely mission critical to Welsh rugby.”

Prof Calvin Jones, Sports Economist

Jones highlighted that the venue generates the revenue required to prop up the regional game, which has seen declining rates for decades.

While the WRU has diversified income through concerts and cultural events, the core product remains vital.

Jones warned that if low attendance becomes a long-term trend, there would be serious worries regarding the “financial viability of the whole game.”

He concluded that a major effort is now required to rebuild trust between the governing body and the Welsh public.