Promoter Frank Warren believes 21-year-old rising star Moses Itauma is ready to fight unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk for a world title before the end of the year.
The British prospect recently delivered an expert demolition of Jermaine Franklin, concluding a consummate performance with a blazing knockout.
That impressive showing convinced his veteran promoter that the youngster firmly belongs at the very top of the heavyweight division.
“I fancy that fight. I’ll be honest with you, I fancy that fight right now,” Warren stated.
“And I don’t rush anyone. If we could make that fight, I’d make that now.”
Rapid rise up the heavyweight ranks
Despite his relative inexperience, the undefeated prodigy has displayed remarkable composure, speed and boxing intelligence.
The lightning-fast southpaw utilises exceptionally quick hands to deliver devastating strikes from unconventional angles.
“His composure, his speed, his boxing brain, everything, his ability and the maturity he showed for such a young fighter is unbelievable,” Warren added.
Title picture remains complex
While a bout against the Ukrainian titleholder would represent a monumental step up, the path to a championship fight remains unpredictable.
The unified champion could vacate one of his belts or opt for a mandatory defence of his WBC title against Agit Kabayel.
Alternatively, he might seek another unification clash against the winner of the upcoming WBO championship bout between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois.
However, securing a fight against the man widely considered the best heavyweight of his era would represent the ultimate prize for the ambitious Briton.
“Usyk’s undefeated. He is what he is and he’s considered to be the best of his era by a lot of people. Go for that,” Warren concluded.
Paul Pogba’s highly anticipated return to football with Monaco has been derailed by persistent injuries and a reported crisis within the Ligue 1 club’s medical department.
The 33-year-old joined the principality side on a two-year contract after serving a suspension for a doping violation during his second spell with Juventus.
However, the former Manchester United midfielder has managed a mere 57 minutes of action across five appearances this season.
A persistent calf issue has severely restricted the World Cup winner’s availability and disrupted his attempts to regain match fitness.
Medical department under scrutiny
Monaco chief executive Thiago Scuro recently admitted that the recovery programme for their high-profile signing has not worked as initially expected.
Scuro also noted that the French international is deeply frustrated by his lack of time on the pitch.
This disappointing comeback coincides with a broader structural upheaval at the Stade Louis II.
Ligue 1 reporter Luke Entwistle told the Manchester Evening News that the club is experiencing an awful season regarding player rehabilitation.
“They’ve decided to get an injury-prone player that they need to get back to full fitness in a year where their medical record has been atrocious, with lots of muscular injuries.”
Mounting casualty list
The internal crisis has reportedly led to the unannounced departure of head doctor Yann Le Meur.
Scuro has actively fast-tracked an audit of the entire medical department, bringing the review forward to January instead of waiting until the summer.
Manager Sebastien Pocognoli is currently navigating a severe squad depletion beyond his star midfielder.
Former Premier League players Takumi Minamino and Mohammed Salisu are facing extended periods on the sidelines after suffering anterior cruciate ligament tears.
Several other first-team members remain unavailable due to various knee and hamstring complaints.
The veteran playmaker has historically struggled with his physical durability, having missed 112 matches during his previous six-year stint at Old Trafford.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot says he will wait until the end of the campaign to evaluate his own performance ahead of Sunday’s crucial Premier League trip to Manchester United.
The Merseyside club currently sit in a strong position to secure a top-five finish and ensure a return to elite European competition.
Speculation has surrounded the Dutchman’s position following a challenging spell that included a run of nine defeats in 12 matches.
However, the Anfield hierarchy have given no indication they are seeking a replacement, and the general consensus is that he will remain in charge next season.
Champions League qualification remains key
The former Feyenoord boss has previously stated that failing to reach Europe’s premier club competition would be completely unacceptable.
Achieving that goal could significantly alter how the 45-year-old views a turbulent campaign in England.
“It depends on the outcome. I will judge myself in four games.”
Slot explained that the financial and psychological boost of European football could turn a perceived failure into an exercise in damage limitation.
A perfectionist constantly seeking improvement
Despite securing a league title, the head coach remains highly critical of his own tactical choices and daily management.
The tactician frequently questions his decisions, including a recent structural shift to a five-man defence during a crucial away fixture in Paris.
“Of course, I am judging myself constantly. You have to make 30, 40, 50 choices every single day and you try to judge them.”
He added that while he already holds a certain opinion of the campaign, the outcome of the final matches will make a massive difference to his self-assessment.
Past success guarantees nothing
The manager demonstrated his ruthless streak earlier in the season by dropping star forward Mohamed Salah from the starting lineup in November.
He insists that historic achievements do not automatically secure a place on the pitch or a future in the dugout.
“Do I have to prove myself as Virgil [van Dijk] does? Yes, he has proven himself as one of the best and Mo [has] and we all have to prove ourselves.”
The Anfield boss concluded that previous success is simply not enough to guarantee playing time every three days at the highest level.
Boston Bruins defenceman Charlie McAvoy was ejected for a violent slash on Zach Benson as his team were eliminated from the NHL play-offs following a 4-1 Game 6 defeat by the Buffalo Sabres.
The incident occurred with just 91 seconds remaining in a frustrating contest that ultimately ended Boston’s postseason campaign.
With the net empty for an extra skater, the American blueliner was sent crashing into the end boards after appearing to be tripped by Benson’s left leg during an icing call.
The 26-year-old immediately rose to his feet, skated through his team-mates and delivered a forceful two-handed chop across his opponent’s torso.
‘Raw emotion went a little too far’
Match officials assessed a five-minute major penalty for slashing against the Bruins star, triggering an automatic game misconduct.
Benson was also penalised on the play, receiving a two-minute minor for tripping.
Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff acknowledged the retaliatory nature of the incident while praising his opponent’s competitive spirit.
“I’m just going to say it was raw emotion. Charlie’s a hell of a player, cares about winning, and anybody would want him on their team. He probably went a little too far, though.”
The veteran manager added that he believed the Boston talisman felt his feet had been deliberately taken out from underneath him on the initial challenge.
Nightmare series ends in disappointment
Following the final horn, the ejected defenceman claimed he was the victim of a dangerous slew foot prior to his retaliation.
When asked about the prospect of supplemental discipline from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety, the frustrated player offered a blunt assessment.
“I won’t play another game until September, so I can’t imagine it really matters much.”
The disciplinary flashpoint capped a miserable first-round series for the usually reliable defender, who finished with a minus-six rating and just two assists across six appearances.
His struggles were highlighted earlier in the decisive third period when he was beaten to a loose puck by Josh Doan, who subsequently set up the critical third Buffalo goal.
Sabres end long wait for progression
Buffalo’s impressive triumph secures their progression to the second round of the Stanley Cup play-offs for the first time since 2007.
Ruff’s revitalised squad will now face the winner of the tightly contested series between the Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Those two sides are scheduled to play a winner-takes-all Game 7 showdown on Sunday.
Formula 1 has officially cancelled the 2026 Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix from their scheduled April slots due to ongoing geopolitical conflict in the Middle East.
The sport’s leadership and the FIA determined that the safety of teams, staff and fans could not be guaranteed amidst regional instability.
Initial hopes of moving the two events to the end of the year have faded as the conflict persists.
This unprecedented decision reduces the 2026 calendar from a record-breaking 24 rounds to 22.
A massive gap in the schedule
The cancellation has created a five-week hiatus in the racing calendar throughout April.
The championship paused after the Japanese Grand Prix and will only resume with the Miami Grand Prix this weekend.
Officials decided against finding replacement venues for the vacant spring slots.
The logistical nightmare of organising a race on short notice was avoided, which has helped ease the travel burden on team personnel.
Safety remains the priority
Stefano Domenicali, the sport’s chief executive, acknowledged the difficulty of losing two established early-season pillars.
While this was a difficult decision to take, it is unfortunately the right one at this stage considering the current situation in the Middle East.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the governing body, echoed these sentiments regarding the protection of the motorsport community.
The FIA will always place the safety and well-being of our community and colleagues first.
He added his hopes for a swift return to regional stability and offered his thoughts to all those affected by recent events.
Future prospects in the Middle East
Domenicali confirmed that the premier motorsport category intends to return to both countries as soon as circumstances allow.
The schedule for the 2027 season is expected to be released in June or later.
Despite the loss of these two events, the current season finale is still scheduled to take place at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
RJ Barrett hit a dramatic three-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime to secure a 112-110 victory for the Toronto Raptors over the Cleveland Cavaliers and force a deciding Game 7 in their Eastern Conference playoff series.
The Canadian forward’s late heroics rescued the hosts after they surrendered an 11-point fourth-quarter lead at Scotiabank Arena.
Evan Mobley had an opportunity to win the series for Cleveland, but the big man saw his final attempt bounce off the front of the rim as time expired.
The result preserves a unique streak in this bruising first-round matchup, with the home team emerging victorious in all six encounters so far.
Historic moment for Barrett
Barrett’s crucial intervention etched his name into the NBA history books.
He becomes the first player since 1998 to make a game-winning field goal in the final seconds of overtime to avoid playoff elimination.
The talented winger finished the night with 24 points, matching the impressive output of rookie teammate Ja’Kobe Walter.
Barnes orchestrates crucial victory
Scottie Barnes played a masterful role in directing the Toronto offense, recording 25 points alongside a game-high 14 assists.
The dynamic playmaker dominated the opening periods, joining an elite group of just eight players in the modern era to register 14 points and 10 assists in a single playoff half.
This vital offensive rhythm helped mask the absence of Brandon Ingram, who was sidelined with a sore right heel sustained earlier in the week.
Collin Murray-Boyles also provided valuable support, contributing 17 points to keep the Canadian franchise alive.
Cavaliers rue costly turnovers
Despite dominant individual performances, defensive lapses and sloppy possession ultimately doomed the visitors.
Mobley led the way for the Ohio franchise with 26 points and 14 rebounds, while Donovan Mitchell added 24 points.
Veteran guard James Harden endured a difficult shooting night, making just five of his 14 attempts from the floor while committing four of his team’s 18 turnovers.
Toronto ruthlessly capitalised on these Cleveland mistakes, scoring 25 points off turnovers and dominating the fast-break battle.
Both teams will now travel back to Ohio for a decisive winner-takes-all showdown on Sunday.
Cade Cunningham scored 32 points on Friday night as the Detroit Pistons erased a 24-point deficit to beat the Orlando Magic 93-79 and force a decisive Game 7 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.
The top-seeded visitors trailed 62-38 early in the third quarter before orchestrating a staggering second-half turnaround.
Orlando initially looked poised to become just the seventh eighth seed in NBA history to eliminate a number one seed in the opening round.
However, the hosts suffered a historic offensive collapse in front of a stunned home crowd at the Kia Center.
Historic shooting slump costs Magic
The Florida franchise missed 23 consecutive shots from the field during a devastating stretch of play.
Detroit capitalised with a ruthless 35-5 run that completely altered the trajectory of both the game and the post-season matchup.
Orlando shot an abysmal 11% from the field in the second half, converting just four of their 37 attempts.
According to league research, that represents the worst field-goal percentage by any team in a regular season or playoff half since play-by-play data tracking began in 1997.
Deciding showdown awaits in Detroit
Tobias Harris contributed 22 points for the resurgent Eastern Conference leaders, who will now host Sunday’s winner-takes-all clash.
Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane each scored 17 points for a shell-shocked Magic side.
The eighth seeds are now winless in two closeout opportunities after failing to build upon a dominant 35-12 second quarter.
Home fans ultimately booed their team off the court as a premature, season-ending exit now looms large for Orlando.
Always a Runner has won the 152nd edition of the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs, securing a maiden victory in the prestigious race for trainer Chad Brown.
Ridden by Jose Ortiz, the undefeated three-year-old filly produced a thrilling late surge to triumph in the first prime-time running of the event.
Making a decisive move around the final turn, she required every inch of the stretch to overtake Bob Baffert’s Explora and Michael McCarthy’s Meaning.
Meaning ultimately secured the runner-up spot, while Counting Stars finished in third place.
Resilience rewarded after illness
The victory marks a remarkable turnaround for the star horse, who suffered a severe bout of pneumonia during her two-year-old season.
Having successfully completed her treatment, the resilient filly has now maintained a flawless career record of three wins from three starts.
“What an unbelievable talent. This filly is very resilient, very tough.”
Prime-time scheduling falls flat
While the 1⅛-mile race made history by shifting to a late slot under the floodlights, the atmosphere was noticeably subdued.
Large sections of the grandstand were visibly empty, with many spectators who attended earlier daytime races choosing to depart before sunset.
Traditionally, this premier fixture for fillies has always been contested before 18:00 local time.
Derby double in sight
Following this milestone triumph, the victorious handler will now aim to complete a rare Oaks-Kentucky Derby double.
Brown saddles Emerging Market in Saturday’s marquee race, hoping to secure his first ever victory in the legendary Kentucky Derby.