British heavyweight Derek Chisora will face former WBC champion Deontay Wilder in his final professional fight at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday, 4 April.

The 42-year-old veteran has insisted this upcoming contest will finally draw the curtain on his long and attritional career.

He meets an American opponent whose own boxing future remains highly uncertain following a challenging run of recent results.

The former titleholder from Alabama has secured just two victories in his last six bruising outings.

Careers on the line in the capital

That damaging stretch includes three knockout defeats, two of which were heavily inflicted by domestic rival Tyson Fury.

Despite possessing a fearsome reputation as one of the hardest punchers in heavyweight history, the 40-year-old has appeared notably hesitant in recent bouts.

He will instead face a remarkably resilient opponent who is celebrated for his immense capacity to absorb punishment and constantly press forward.

Timings and undercard details

Main card action in London is scheduled to begin at 18:00 BST.

The headline ring walks for the highly anticipated farewell bout are expected to follow at approximately 22:00 BST.

Fans will be able to watch the heavyweight event worldwide via DAZN pay-per-view.

The supporting bill features an intriguing cruiserweight clash between Viddal Riley and Mateusz Masternak, alongside Denzel Bentley taking on Endry Saavedra.

Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney says there are no guarantees regarding Steve Borthwick’s future as England head coach until a review into their dismal Six Nations campaign concludes in April.

The national side suffered four defeats in their five tournament matches, marking their worst performance since the competition expanded in 2000.

While a post-tournament debrief is standard practice, Sweeney admitted this year’s alarming results require a much deeper dive into the unusual outcome.

Uncertainty surrounding summer fixtures

When pressed on whether the head coach would definitely remain in charge for July’s upcoming Tests against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina, Sweeney refused to give absolute backing.

“Clearly, there are some issues and we’re getting to them already to see what needs addressing,” Sweeney stated.

The RFU boss emphasised that the immediate priority is ensuring the right support mechanisms are in place to rectify recent on-field struggles.

“We’re in the middle of the review, so it wouldn’t be appropriate to start talking about specific issues right now, but we’ll get to the bottom of all of them.”

No shortcuts for World Cup preparation

Sweeney insists his final verdict on the management team will not be swayed by the looming horizon of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

The current manager originally took the reins with less than a year to prepare for the previous global tournament after predecessor Eddie Jones was dismissed in December 2022.

“I’m not thinking about deadlines and all of that; we just really focused on getting to the bottom of what we need to solve,” said the chief executive.

Despite acknowledging that standard succession planning continues in the background, Sweeney firmly distanced the governing body from speculation linking Andy Farrell to the Twickenham hot seat.

“He’s under contract to 2027 and the Rugby World Cup, we are not in a dialogue and we are not in a discussion with him at present,” Sweeney confirmed regarding the successful Ireland coach.

Absolute confidence in playing squad

In stark contrast to his cautious stance on the coaching setup, Sweeney was unequivocal in his support for the players at their disposal.

“We still think this is an extremely strong squad, and we still think that it’s got the potential and capabilities to do some special things,” he noted.

The ongoing independent review is being conducted by an anonymous panel featuring figures from both inside and outside the sport.

It incorporates comprehensive interviews with both players and backroom staff to assess the root causes of the recent international slump.

Former boss Jones previously described the debrief as a tough process, noting the involvement of high-profile figures such as RFU director of performance rugby Conor O’Shea and Lions legend Ian McGeechan.

UFC president Dana White has confirmed that welterweight champion Islam Makhachev will return to the Octagon in August following a hand injury.

Makhachev has not fought since claiming the 170lb title with a dominant victory over Jack Della Maddalena last November.

Fans have eagerly awaited news of the Russian fighter’s first title defence amid speculation surrounding his fitness.

Ali Abdelaziz, the champion’s manager, recently suggested a July comeback was on the cards.

White dismisses July rumours

A July return would have potentially placed the 34-year-old on the UFC 330 card alongside a rumoured Conor McGregor comeback.

However, White quickly dismissed those reports when responding to a social media post regarding Abdelaziz’s comments.

“Not true…….. It’s August.”

The UFC boss previously revealed in March that his reigning welterweight king was dealing with hand issues.

Potential challengers emerge for UFC 331

While the exact location for UFC 331 remains unconfirmed, speculation is already mounting over who will challenge for the belt.

Second-ranked Irishman Ian Machado Garry stands out as a leading contender for the August showdown.

Former champion Kamaru Usman is also managed by Abdelaziz, leading to suggestions that a bout could be negotiated despite his current seventh-place ranking.

An immediate rematch for top-ranked Della Maddalena appears highly unlikely given the conclusive nature of his recent defeat.

Furthermore, the Australian is already scheduled to face Carlos Prates in May.

Machado Garry questions injury

Other highly ranked fighters, including Belal Muhammad, are also booked for upcoming bouts.

This leaves Machado Garry and third-ranked Michael Morales as the most logical options from the current top five.

The undefeated Irishman has already begun stoking a potential rivalry by publicly doubting the severity of the champion’s reported injury.

Machado Garry shared recent training footage of the titleholder punching a heavy bag on social media.

“WTF. Hand injury. Or time wasting?”

Despite the provocation, it is entirely possible the dominant grappler has simply recovered enough to resume full training ahead of his summer return.

Six-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy has issued an urgent plea for men over 40 to undergo prostate cancer screening after revealing his own terminal diagnosis.

The 50-year-old received the life-changing news in September 2023 following initial discomfort in his shoulder and ribs.

Scans subsequently revealed that a primary tumour in his prostate had metastasised to his bones.

The former Team GB cyclist publicly announced in October 2024 that the disease had progressed to stage four.

Medical professionals have estimated he has between two and four years to live.

Finding a new purpose

Since receiving his prognosis, the British sporting icon has dedicated himself to raising vital awareness.

He recently launched the Scottish Prostate Cancer Initiative in Glasgow.

This ambitious programme is designed to screen 25,000 Scottish men to drastically improve early detection rates.

The cycling legend is particularly keen to stress how straightforward the diagnostic process is for patients.

I think the most important thing is to explain that it’s just a simple blood test.
With a PSA test you’re in and out of the doctor’s in five minutes.
It’s easy, it’s simple, it’s painless and it could save your life.

Breaking the stigma

A family history of the disease meant the multiple world champion was already aware of the associated risks.

Both his father and grandfather had previously battled prostate cancer.

However, the celebrated athlete admitted he falsely assumed the illness only presented with obvious early-warning signs in older demographics.

Early detection saves lives – that is the message to take away from today.
A stage four diagnosis changes your life drastically but I guess it’s finding a new purpose.

The impact of his public disclosure has already been profound across the medical community.

Inquiries from men contacting their general practitioners for test bookings have surged by a reported 700 per cent since his announcement.

Donald Trump has claimed that Tiger Woods will not compete at the 2026 Masters, despite the golfer recently stating he is doing everything possible to play at Augusta National.

The surprising assertion comes just weeks before the first men’s major of the year is scheduled to begin.

Woods had previously expressed a strong desire to tee it up at the prestigious tournament, raising hopes among fans of another remarkable comeback.

Conflicting statements emerge ahead of Augusta

Speaking about the upcoming April event, Trump indicated that while the five-time Masters winner will not be in the competitive field, he is still expected to attend as a spectator.

This directly contradicts recent comments from the 50-year-old golf icon, who insisted only days ago that he was working tirelessly to ensure his physical readiness.

The American legend has battled severe mobility issues since suffering significant leg injuries in a serious car crash in early 2021.

Ongoing physical struggles limit appearances

In recent years, the former world number one has adopted an extremely restricted playing schedule in order to prioritise the four major championships.

Walking the famously undulating terrain of Augusta National has proven visibly difficult for him during his most recent competitive outings.

It remains unclear whether the politician possesses inside information regarding the golfer’s health or if his comments were purely speculative.

Neither Woods nor his management team have released an official statement confirming his withdrawal from the highly anticipated tournament.

British heavyweight Moses Itauma faces the toughest test of his professional career when he fights American Jermaine Franklin at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena on Saturday, 28 March 2026.

The 21-year-old headlines Queensberry’s Magnificent 7 event as he returns to the ring following a torn bicep.

That sparring injury forced the original January bout to be postponed by two months.

Now fully recovered, the powerful southpaw is seeking another emphatic victory on his rapid ascent to world-title contention.

Final piece of the puzzle

The unbeaten fighter boasts a formidable record of 13 victories with 11 knockouts since turning professional in 2023.

He was last seen demolishing Dillian Whyte in under two minutes last summer in Riyadh.

That dominant performance secured Commonwealth gold to sit alongside his WBA International and WBO Inter-Continental belts.

The British prospect clearly recognises the significance of this weekend’s clash.

This is the final piece of the puzzle before eyeing huge fights and world title opportunities.

Moses Itauma

Durable opposition

Franklin represents a significant step up in class for the home favourite.

The 32-year-old possesses a record of 24 wins and two defeats, but importantly has never been stopped inside the distance.

Both of the American’s career losses came during consecutive London appearances in 2023.

He was edged out by Whyte at Wembley Arena before losing a hard-fought unanimous decision to Anthony Joshua four months later.

Fight times and undercard details

The undercard proceedings in Manchester will begin at 17:00 GMT.

Ring walks for the main event are expected to take place at approximately 23:00 GMT.

Domestic viewers can watch the entire broadcast live via a standard DAZN subscription.

The event features an extensive undercard packed with domestic talent.

Defending two-time champion Ilia Malinin has put his Milan Cortina Olympics disappointment behind him to take a commanding lead in the short program at the World Figure Skating Championships in Prague.

The American star delivered a personal-best score of 111.29 at the O2 Arena on Thursday.

He will carry a massive advantage of more than nine points into Saturday’s free skate.

Redemption for the ‘Quad God’

The spectacular routine emphatically signalled that his recent Olympic struggles are firmly in the past.

In one of the biggest upsets in the sport’s history, the gold-medal favourite previously plummeted from first to eighth place after falling twice during a disastrous Olympic free skate.

The skater later admitted he had succumbed to the intense pressure during his debut appearance at the Winter Games.

Returning to the ice with renewed focus in the Czech capital, he opened his routine with a flawless quad flip.

The display also featured a seamless combination of a quad lutz and a triple toe loop.

Opting for a sensible strategic approach, the only competitor to land a competitive quad axel performed a triple version of his trademark jump.

Chasing the podium

French competitor Adam Siao Him Fa secured second place with 101.85 points after nailing a perfect quad toe loop combination.

Aleksandr Selevko of Estonia delivered a surprise third-place finish by achieving a personal-best score of 96.49.

Japanese Olympic bronze medallist Shun Sato currently sits in fourth position.

Meanwhile, his compatriot and pre-event favourite Yuma Kagiyama suffered a costly fall during a lutz attempt.

Notable absences and American hopefuls

United States representative Andrew Torgashev finished the opening day in seventh place.

Fellow American Jacob Sanchez claimed 10th position in what is his senior worlds debut.

Newly crowned Olympic champion Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan has chosen to skip this week’s tournament.

The pairs free skate event is scheduled to conclude later on Thursday evening.

The International Olympic Committee has banned transgender women from competing in all female events at the Olympic Games.

The sweeping decision marks a significant shift in policy for the world’s foremost sporting organisation.

Previously, the global authority had allowed individual international federations to determine their own specific eligibility criteria for female categories.

Eligibility rule changes

This updated framework means athletes who have transitioned from male to female will no longer be permitted to enter women’s Olympic competitions.

The ruling aligns the pinnacle of international sport with several governing bodies that have recently tightened their own participation guidelines.

Organisations such as World Athletics and World Aquatics have already implemented similar restrictions regarding female categories in recent years.

Impact on future Games

The new directive will be strictly enforced across all disciplines ahead of the upcoming summer and winter sporting spectacles.

Officials have consistently stated that balancing competitive fairness in female categories with the desire for general athletic inclusion remains a deeply complex challenge.

It is understood that this restriction applies universally across every sport contested under the five-ring umbrella.