List of All Articles with Tag 'sport'

Carlos Alcaraz and 22-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic have been placed in the same half of the French Open field in the draw and could face each other in the semifinals

Former sparring partners Lawrence Okolie and Chris Billam-Smith will meet in a world-title fight this weekend. Okolie enters Billam-Smith’s hometown of Bournemouth with the WBO cruiserweight belt and an unbeaten record, but the challenger will be buoyed by great support at Vitality Stadium – home to his beloved AFC Bournemouth. In his most recent fight, Okolie outpointed David Light in March, with the beaten New Zealander suffering a ‘mild stroke’ but expected to make a ‘full recovery’. Meanwhile, Billam-Smith produced a knockout-of-the-year contender against Armend Xhoxhaj in December. Okolie (19-0, 14 KOs) said of Billam-Smith (17-1, 12 KOs) this week: “Chris, I love you, but I have to get the KO in this one.” Here’s all you need to know. When is it? The fight will take place at Vitality Stadium, home to Premier League side AFC Bournemouth, on Saturday 27 May. The main card is set to begin at 7pm BST (11am PT, 1pm CT, 2pm ET), with ring walks for the main event expected at approximately 10pm BST (3pm PT, 5pm CT, 6pm ET). How can I watch it? The event will air live on Sky Sports in the UK, with the broadcaster’s website and Sky Go app also streaming the fights. No US broadcaster has yet been confirmed for the event. Odds Okolie – 2/7 Billam-Smith – 11/4 Draw – 14/1 Full odds via Betway. Full card (subject to change) Lawrence Okolie (C) vs Chris Billam-Smith (WBO cruiserweight title) Mikael Lawal (C) vs Isaac Chamberlain (British cruiserweight title) Lee Cutler vs Stanley Stannard (super-welterweight) Mace Ruegg vs Dean Dodge (super-featherweight) Sam Eggington vs Joe Pigford (super-welterweight) Michael McKinson vs TBA (welterweight) Tommy Welch vs TBA (heavyweight) Karriss Artingsall vs. Jade Taylor (featherweight) Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Wood vs Lara live stream: How to watch fight online and on TV this weekend Katie Taylor’s long reign as boxing queen over despite heroic last stand ‘Daylight robbery’: Vasiliy Lomachenko’s team plan to appeal Devin Haney defeat Joe Rogan is right: Tyson Fury has ‘no chance in hell’ against Jon Jones How to watch Okolie vs Billam-Smith online and on TV this weekend What time does Wood vs Lara start in UK and US this weekend? How to watch Wood vs Lara online and on TV this weekend

Shelby County Sheriff's deputies say Ja Morant "is fine" after authorities performed a wellness check at the Memphis Grizzlies star guard's home on Wednesday.

The closest Bundesliga title race for years ends on the final day of the season on Saturday when Borussia Dortmund or Bayern Munich will be crowned champion

Ronaldinho has spoken about his former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi, saying that it is “difficult” for him to name Messi the greatest footballer of all time. The Brazil legend said that he believes there are three players in the history of the game who are potentially better than the 35-year-old. However, he did say that he believes the Argentinian forward is the best player of the modern era, putting him above Cristiano Ronaldo. Speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca, Ronaldinho said: “I’m glad Messi won the Ballon d’Or. We were also friends during our time at Barcelona. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter “But I don’t like to compare, and I find it difficult to say he is the best of all time.” He added that he saw Messi as the “best of his era” ahead of Ronaldo, but said he can’t put Messi ahead of some of the greats of the game.“ There was Maradona, Pele, Ronaldo... it’s hard to say that Messi is the best throughout the history of football,” Ronaldinho said. “I can only say he is the best of his era.” Ronaldinho played at Barcelona with Messi after arriving at the Camp Nou in 2003, until he left in 2008. The discussion about Messi being the best of all time has always been there, but no more so than after he won the World Cup at the end of last year - with newly unearthed footage capturing his actions seconds before the final result emerging earlier in 2023. Messi previously hailed the impact that Ronaldinho had on Barcelona after arriving in the early 99s, saying: “Ronaldinho was responsible for the change in Barca. It was a bad time and the change that came about with his arrival was amazing.” “In the first year, he didn’t win anything but people fell in love with him. Then the trophies started coming and he made all those people happy. Barca should always be grateful for everything he did.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Mark Robins has praised Coventry for being “one game away from achieving a dream” at the end of a season in which he accepts he might have been sacked. Coventry meet Luton in the Sky Bet Championship play-off final on Saturday with a Premier League place and the millions of pounds that come with such status at stake. Yet Coventry – who played seven of their opening nine league games away from the CBS Arena this season after the Commonwealth Games’ Rugby Sevens wrecked the pitch – were bottom of the Championship on October 19 and still in the relegation zone as November began. “We are one game away from achieving a dream and changing the club’s future very quickly,” said manager Robins. “This season has been exceptional in terms of the start we were handed and all the well documented issues that we had. “The fact I remained in post when others didn’t. Bottom of the league in October, it’s generally unacceptable. “That’s been something you look back on and say, ‘OK, that could have happened but it didn’t’. “We managed to navigate our way through a really difficult period and come out the other side. “The supporters understood the situation and really backed it, and without them it wouldn’t have happened. “That’s why it makes it so special because, for me, the biggest achievement since I came through the door is the reconnection between players and supporters and long may that continue.” Robins’ second Coventry spell – he spent five months there before leaving for Huddersfield in February 2013 – began in March 2017 with the Sky Blues bottom of League One and doomed to relegation. Coventry claimed promotion the following season with a Wembley play-off final victory over Exeter, and Robins repeated the trick in the Covid-hit campaign of 2019-20 as the club returned to the second tier of English football for the first time since 2012. Success was more notable as it was achieved against the backdrop of playing in Birmingham between 2019 and 2021 due to a rent dispute. A sense of calm did not arrive until January when Doug King completed a full takeover of the club, while last month’s agreement of a five-year deal to continue playing at the the CBS Arena has provided further stability. “I’ve had so much turbulence here that my first job at Rotherham stood me in good stead,” said Robins, recalling the 2008-09 League Two season when the Millers were deducted 17 points and Luton lost 30 for breaching Football League insolvency rules. “The game is one for the romantics because of the journeys both clubs have been on. “Luton dropped out of the league when I started my managerial career and found it very difficult to come back from that position. “It took them five years to get back in and they have had a phenomenal run ever since.” The game is one for the romantics because of the journeys both clubs have been on Coventry manager Mark Robins Coventry lost only once in their final 17 games to finish fifth in the Championship and they edged out highly fancied Middlesbrough in their play-off semi-final. But Robins said: “We are under no illusions Luton are going to be made favourites because they finished 10 points ahead of us in the division. “Luton are a really good team with some good technical players and have the power to go with that. That’s why they finished third. “They are a year ahead of us in their development (Luton were play-off semi-finalists last season) and are expected to go up. No one expected us to be in this game. “But the change of ownership has accelerated our five-year plan by five years. We’ve got to try and and finish this off, but to be in a position to do that is in itself incredible.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Marc Skinner bemused at lack of praise for Man Utd as they fight for WSL title Pep Guardiola: Disallowed Haaland ‘goal’ proves Man City success is on own merit Sale skipper Jono Ross hoping to finish career with ‘special day’ at Twickenham

After touring games for four seasons, the Premier Lacrosse League will select the home cities for each of

Marc Skinner is bemused at the lack of praise for his Manchester United side even though they head into the last Women’s Super League game of the season with an outside chance of winning the title. United head to Liverpool on Saturday afternoon two points behind league leaders Chelsea, who will be crowned champions for a fourth successive time if they defeat relegation-threatened Reading. However, even if the final day unfolds as anticipated and United settle for a runners-up spot, it would still be their highest top-flight finish, in a season where they reached the FA Cup final for the first time. Just five years after being reformed, Skinner believes United gate-crashing the established order of Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal should be more widely recognised by those following the game. “We’ve been exceptional this year and I don’t think we get enough credit, I really don’t,” said the United boss. “There’s always a caveat as to why we’re successful. That is other teams’ injuries, other teams maybe not having the run they wanted and having Champions League and I get that. It’s a factor we will have to look at but I just feel the players have been exceptional this year. “It’s not about where we finish in the league right now, that’s not the over-riding factor. We’re growing up in front of the public eye whereas other teams have already done that. I feel this team in a pressure cauldron not only have performed well but won games of football. “We’re still in contention to win and if we don’t we finish second but to do that and disrupt the historical top-three, that is a big, big season regardless of what’s happened elsewhere. “I want people to give this team and the players the credit they deserve.” Aoife Mannion will miss out this weekend after tweaking her knee while blocking a shot in training although Skinner is confident the Republic of Ireland defender will be fit for the World Cup. “We’re hoping so, that’s the plan,” said Skinner, who will also be unable to call upon Maria Thorisdottir because of the Norwegian’s foot injury. “There’s nothing structurally wrong. She won’t be in at the weekend but we’re hoping in a few weeks, she’ll be back.”

Pep Guardiola believes the perceived injustice of Erling Haaland’s disallowed goal in Wednesday’s thrilling 1-1 draw at Brighton proves Manchester City are Premier League champions on their own merits. City top scorer Haaland looked to have claimed a late winner at the Amex Stadium but his close-range header from Cole Palmer’s cross was ruled out after VAR spotted a shirt pull on Levi Colwill. Guardiola was visibly angered by the decision after seeing a replay on the big screen inside the ground and was later shown a yellow card by referee Simon Hooper for his ongoing protestations. The City boss claims 36-goal striker Haaland has endured similar physical contact from defenders all season and feels the incident shows his side have not benefited from favourable refereeing calls during their charge to the title. “If it’s disallowed, every action to Erling Haaland by all central defenders is a fault,” he said. “Every action. And we saw one or two (on Wednesday). “It’s a goal because he’s bigger, he’s stronger, he won the position (from Colwill) and it was an incredible action from Cole Palmer and the goal should be given. “But that proved that what we won on the pitch belongs to us, not anyone gave us anything. “He has bruises on all of his body after the games. If he’s faulting in the disallowed goal, every action to him is a fault and never happens.” Haaland, who squandered two excellent first-half chances, nodded home 11 minutes from time in front of the travelling fans after Julio Enciso’s stunning strike cancelled out Phil Foden’s opener. A gripping south-coast contest halted City’s top-flight winning streak at 12 games but mattered little in the context of their season. that proved that what we won on the pitch belongs to us, not anyone gave us anything. That proved that what we won on the pitch belongs to us, not anyone gave us anything. Pep Guardiola Guardiola’s men enjoyed alcohol-fuelled celebrations after lifting the Premier League trophy following Sunday’s 1-0 win over Chelsea and are bidding to complete the treble with FA Cup and Champions League glory. Following Sunday’s visit to Brentford, City face rivals Manchester United at Wembley on June 3 before attempting to become European champions for the first time against Inter Milan in Istanbul a week later. Guardiola has defensive issues moving towards the two finals after Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and Manuel Akanji missed the trip to Sussex. Jack Grealish was also absent, while John Stones and Foden were withdrawn during the game as a precaution. “Phil had a knock in the first half and problems in his leg and the doctor told me that in this position it is dangerous so we don’t take a risk,” said Guardiola. “John at the end was a little tight but he didn’t feel anything and is fine, he told me, but we didn’t want to take a risk because we had just one central defender with John. “The others are injured so hopefully they can recover as soon as possible. “We sustained no injuries for a long time but the moment we get near the Champions League final, four or five players get little niggles – important ones – and we have to recover them.” Sixth-placed Brighton cemented their spot in next season’s Europa League with the midweek point. Pascal Gross, the Seagulls’ first signing following promotion to the top flight in 2017, told his club’s website: “I’m so proud of the boys, what an achievement for us. “We can’t wait for the Europa League. What a season ahead.” Paraguayan Enciso’s spectacular equaliser followed another goal of the season contender from the 19-year-old in last month’s 2-1 win at Chelsea. “He can have it (goal of the season),” said Gross. “Two incredible goals. “What I like more, he’s getting better and better. It’s not easy coming from far away abroad with no English. “But he’s improving speaking English, he’s improving adapting to the group, a good guy and I think there’s much more to come.”

Rob Edwards admitted it would be an “incredible story” for Luton midfielder Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu to reach the Premier League having been at the club since they were in the National League. Mpanzu joined from West Ham in 2014 when Luton were languishing in the fifth tier of English football and a win on Saturday in the Sky Bet Championship play-off final against Coventry would be his fourth promotion in 10 seasons. Over 300 appearances and nine years later, the 29-year-old is potentially 90 minutes away from reaching the top-flight and facing off with his former side next season. “It would be (a great achievement). I need to stress that it would be an incredible story,” Edwards said. “I know people have gone from the National League to do incredible things but to do it with one club would be a great story and if we are able to do it there’s not one person I would be more happy for than Pelly. “He is such an important person around the place and an incredible man, he deserves it but it doesn’t mean we are going to do it, we have to make it happen but it would be great for him. “He’s the heartbeat of the group because he’s been here so long, an honest guy, very hard-working and he’s just stepped up. To do one more level would be incredible.” He's the heartbeat of the group because he's been here so long, an honest guy, very hard-working and he's just stepped up Rob Edwards on Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu Mpanzu felt his transfer to Luton was a risk but since praised the club’s mentality and belief as a key factor to their stark success over the last decade. And Luton’s current longest serving player believed he would one day return to the Premier League. “It has been a risk but here we are moments away from the Premier League, it’s been a good experience and I don’t want it to end on Saturday,” Mpanzu added. “I knew my ability would get me back there (Premier League), obviously you have got to have a great team around you and support, but when you have belief and know you can rise back to the top, Luton have done that in a short space of time. “Going from non-league to the Premier League with one club would be crazy.” Defender Dan Potts played with Mpanzu at West Ham before rejoining his former team-mate at Kenilworth Road in 2015. Mpanzu looked back at the pair’s comeback story since leaving the Hammers, saying: “He followed me here and he told me he was signing. “I told him the team is going places and he’s been a good signing. He’s stuck with me through thick and thin. “It’s mad we were both at West Ham and now one game away from the Premiership so it’s been a real journey with him also.”

Team Penske has struggled at the Indianapolis 500 the past few years, both in qualifying and the race, and the pressure has been building to produce some results

The Florida Panthers are headed to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 27 years