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Tiger Woods’ absence was keenly felt on the PGA Tour, but during his recent appearance, there was a significant surge in viewership.

Last weekend saw Woods teaming up with his son Charlie at the PNC Championship in Orlando, Florida.

This event marked Tiger’s first competitive play since his sixth lower-back surgery in September.

Rory McIlroy's fears justified after latest Tiger Woods injury return -  Irish Star

READ: WATCH: Tiger Woods and ex-wife Elin Nordegrens passionate embrace at PNC Championship speaks volumes after cheating drama

Before this Father/Son Challenge, Woods hadn’t played in a tournament since The Open Championship in July. Injuries have plagued him, resulting in only 13 starts on the PGA Tour over the past four seasons.

As accusations of ‘cheating’ fly at Bernhard Langer and the PGA Tour anticipates another lift from Woods’ presence, fans revelled in the highlights provided by Team Woods – not least of which was Charlie’s first ace at the fourth hole par-3.

“That was the thrill of a lifetime to be able to have that moment with Charlie, make his first hole-in-one, [daughter] Sam on the bag, just our family and friends. That’s what this event is about. It’s about bonding and family,” Woods expressed.

He further acknowledged the competitive spirit of the event, stating, “I know we didn’t win, but it was the fact that we competed. No one really made a mistake out there. We had to earn it, and that’s what you want to have. Hats off to Langers. They played amazing.”

Tiger Woods’ impressive showing at the PNC Championship, alongside his son, drew a massive audience, with Sports Media Watch reporting that day one of the event pulled in an average of 2.92 million viewers across Nielsen and Adobe Analytics.

This figure represents a staggering 147% increase from the previous year and is the highest for the tournament’s opening day since its inception in 1995. The following day also saw a significant boost, with an average of 1.42 million viewers, marking a 32% rise from 2023.

The ‘Tiger effect’ is thought to be behind the PNC Championship’s robust viewership numbers, which stand in sharp contrast to the declining figures seen at other major golf tournaments this year. For instance, the 152nd Open Championship in July attracted its smallest audience since 2015, with just 3.39 million viewers.

Similarly, the Masters’ final round earlier in the year experienced a 20% drop in viewership compared to the previous year.

Rory McIlroy has commented on the downward trend, linking it to the ongoing dispute between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. “If you look at the TV ratings of the PGA Tour this year, they’re down 20 percent across the board. That’s a fifth. That’s big. I would say the numbers on LIV aren’t great either in terms of the people tuning in,” he remarked earlier this year.

“I just think with the fighting and everything that’s gone on over the past couple of years, people are just getting fatigued, and it’s turning people off men’s professional golf, and that’s not a good thing for anyone.”

Jeff Mayweather says Tyson Fury did not take enough risks, which is why he came up short against Oleksandr Usyk.

Usyk secured another victory against Fury via a unanimous decision to retain his unified heavyweight titles. It was the second defeat of Fury’s career, ending any need for a trilogy fight. Once again, Fury was upset with the result, being adamant that he had done enough to win. Frank Warren also came out to say he could not understand the judging, as all three scorecards were 116-112 in favor of Usyk. However, the boxing statistics showed that the Ukrainian was the better fighter.

Usyk landed 179 punches compared to Fury’s 144. Fury threw more punches at 509 compared to Usyk’s 423. But the Ukrainian was the more accurate fighter. The card also used AI scoring for the first time in boxing’s history. The AI scorecards had it an even wider win for Usyk at 118-112. Mayweather has now given his take on what went wrong. He felt Fury did not take enough chances going into the latter part of the fight, which ultimately proved the difference, as Usyk finished stronger.

READ: VIDEO: ‘Not easy but easier’: Oleksandr Usyk reacts to second win over Tyson Fury

“The fight was extremely close. It could go either way, but I’ll lean a little bit toward Tyson. Every other round, he [Usyk] would do good, but not as much as Tyson did. Usyk is taking over the heavyweights. They’re all getting beat by Usyk. So, probably not. I don’t think anyone wants to see a third fight [between Fury and Usyk]. The first fight to me was very good. The second fight was mediocre. Neither one of them did too much. Basically, I think, both guys were fighting safe, and that’s probably why Tyson didn’t get the fight. He was fighting too safe,” Mayweather said

It is one thing to say that but another thing entirely to execute it. A large part of Fury’s problem was that he could not keep up with Usyk’s constant pressure. The Ukrainian is known for his impeccable footwork, as he continuously put his front foot on the outside, allowing him to get into position to let that left hand go. Fury also came in heavier than the first fight, which may have had an impact later down the stretch. Although it could have helped Fury sit down on his punches, if he attempted to get the knockout, he would ultimately carry more pounds.

There is also a suggestion that Fury did not risk going for the knockout, given what happened in the first fight. He ultimately lost a split decision but was almost stopped in the ninth round, only for the referee to intervene by imposing a standing eight count. If Fury continues boxing, he is likely to face Anthony Joshua. While he was stopped against Daniel Dubois, AJ is known for letting off huge combinations. And if Fury wants to come out victorious in the big fights, he must take more chances.

Simone Biles definitely had a Paris Olympics campaign to remember. The gymnast arrived in the French city with a point to prove after her withdrawal from Tokyo left many doubting her potential to compete again at the big stage. But, when odds stack up against someone who is absolutely brilliant at their job, that’s when they shine through even more. Simone ended up winning four medals in Paris with three golds and one silver.

Thus, the gymnast can look back and remember Paris quite fondly. To help her do this, Simone Biles even brought herself a soft toy version of the Olympic mascot called the Phryges. The mascot, which is meant to represent liberty, one ideal of the French Revolution, was not liked by the audience when it was first introduced. But it eventually grew on them, with many praising the red anthropomorphic cap and buying it, which led to huge sales of it in the country.

Thus, Simone Biles had also bought one herself to keep as a memento. However, her toy seems to be threatened by the arrival of a new member of the Biles family. On December 24th, Simone posted a photo on her Instagram story introducing the world to her parent’s new puppy. She captioned the story, saying, “My parents got a new puppy.” While this generated its fair share of buzz, it was the next story that caught fan’s attention.Simone Biles

Simone Biles posted another story of the dog after that, showing her keeping the Paris Olympics mascot by her side while she chews on a different toy. It seemed that the mascot was also about to have the same fate, seemingly worrying the gymnast. She captioned the story, saying, “& her favorite toy is Mr. Paris. ‘I will not freak out. I will not freak out.” Thus, it will take some time for Simone to get used to the animal. But the gymnast has always had a connection with dogs.

In fact, during the Olympics, Simone Biles and team USA had taken a therapy dog with them named Beacon, who had been introduced to them during the trials. He had been a source of comfort to the whole team, including the gymnast, and benefited their mental well-being.

The ‘Goodest Boy’ of the US team also highlighted the modern-day struggle of mental health for athletes, which might affect their performances. Of course, the biggest example here is Simone’s Tokyo campaign itself. Thus, there is quite a good chance that Beacon’s presence in the team might have played a role in Simone Biles’ extraordinary performance. This shows that she has always been deeply connected with dogs.

Simone Biles wanted a dog during her childhood

Two-division undisputed champion Claressa Shields, who is set to face Danielle Perkins on February 2 in pursuit of becoming undisputed in a third weight class, was moved to tears by the overwhelming support her movie ‘The Fire Inside’ is receiving upon release on Christmas Day. So, the undefeated ‘GOWAT’ of boxing has taken to social media to express her gratitude.

Shields, who proudly refers to herself as a three-division undisputed champion on her X bio, first watched the movie based on her life in January 2024. The film chronicles her inspiring journey from her upbringing in Flint, Michigan, to her rise as a two-time Olympic gold medalist and boxing icon.

The Flint, Michigan native has already declared the movie “very accurate,” having played a hands-off role in the making of the film—reports reveal she had just OK’d the script. Shields also seems to have had lengthy conversations with producer Barry Jenkins to ensure she was fine with sharing intricate and personal details of her life through the movie.

‘T-Rex’ secured gold in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, which made her the first American boxer, regardless of sex, to win gold in back-to-back Olympic Games. The movie’s main premise explores Shields’ road to London, concluding as she starts training for Rio. Regardless, with the movie ready to hit the theaters tonight—Shields preemptively thanked her fans.Claressa Shields

“I’m crying my eyes out,” she wrote on X. “All the support for ‘The Fire Inside’ is so touching! Changing so many hearts & lives! Everyone who got tickets thank you so much. It means the world!” Meanwhile, Claressa Shields has revealed what she wants the movie to do for her fans!

Claressa Shields on Ryan Destiny portraying her in the movie

“I want them to see everything wasn’t easy,” the undefeated boxer said in a conversation with ESPN. “It was hard mentally and physically and emotionally and it took a lot to overcome those things, but I wanted those things to be in there, because I’m not ashamed of them, and I think it’ll help somebody else.”

If Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua were to fight in 2025, what could we expect? Well, we have taken it upon ourselves to ask ChatGPT to predict the superfight should it take place in the new year. Taking into consideration their strengths and weaknesses, and also analysing what position they will be in in 2025, AI has come out with a winner, so let’s dive in and take a look.

Everyone knows the strengths of Fury. The Gypsy King has incredible agility for a man of his size (6’9″, 270+ lbs), exceptional boxing IQ, and the ability to switch tactics during a fight. With only two defeats on his record, both coming against, arguably, one of the greatest boxers of all time, Tyson poses a threat to boxers like not many can. In comparison to Fury, Joshua is an elite athlete with incredible physical power (6’6″, 240-250 lbs). His fundamentals — jab, straight right hand, and combination punching — are solid, and when he boxes intelligently, he’s hard to beat. His ability to hurt opponents with just one punch is a significant asset.

Weaknesses

Despite their glaring strengths, both fighters have weaknesses that can be exposed. Despite his size and agility, Fury’s occasional lapses in focus, especially in earlier rounds, have been seen. His stamina and ability to stay focused over 12 rounds have also been questioned, especially in tough, gruelling fights. Joshua, meanwhile, has shown some vulnerability to pressure fighters who can push him into uncomfortable situations, like Andy Ruiz Jr and Oleksandr Usyk. He’s been criticised for lacking the aggressive, relentless streak that would enable him to break down a champion like Fury. He also struggles under sustained pressure, especially if he’s rocked or hurt early in a fight.Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

State of Fighters in 2025

Depending on when the two meet inside the ring, Fury could be 37 and Joshua could be 36. The former has been one of the most active top-tier heavyweights, but there will be questions about his longevity. He may have slowed down slightly in terms of reflexes, but his experience and ring generalship will still be formidable. Assuming he’s still at the top of his game, he could enter the fight as the favourite due to his ability to box at long range, avoid damage, and adapt in real time. If AJ has successfully rebuilt himself after his loss to Daniel Dubois and improved his mental game and tactical discipline, he could come in sharper and more confident than in previous years. His form will depend heavily on his ability to regain his composure and mindset after the setbacks he’s faced.

Frank Warren has hit out at ‘bullsh*t’ claims after Tyson Fury was accused of breaking the rules in his fight against Oleksandr Usyk.

Fury suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Usyk in Saturday’s rematch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The scoring angered the Brit, who slammed the verdict in new backstage footage.

His long-time promoter Warren also made his feelings clear as he gave an astonishing post-fight interview in the ring, with the scorecards in his hands.

A couple of days removed from the world championship showdown, Warren has launched an outburst at claims Fury broke the rules before the bout.

Boxing fans had accused the self-proclaimed ‘Gypsy King’ of having his shorts pulled up too high for his bout against Usyk.Tyson Fury

But the 72-year-old has jumped to Fury’s defence, passionately refuting the suggestion that his fighter’s kit was illegal.

“One of the journalists talking about him wearing his shorts up to underneath his nipples… bullsh*t is it,” he told Box Nation.

“The referee came in the dressing room before the fight. The way he wore them was legal. Did you hear one complaint about that from the other side?

“None at all… some idiot in there who knows nothing about boxing coming out with that and it’s just, I don’t know, I just find it ridiculous some of this stuff.”

Frank Warren alongside Tyson Fury for a press conference. Image: Getty

Warren also shared his thoughts on Fury’s beard, which came under scrutiny ahead of his rematch.

But the legendary promoter described the situation a ‘non-issue’ in yet another rant.

“A non-issue,” he replied when asked about Fury’s beard. “A total lot of crap and a non-issue. If it was illegal, then they wouldn’t have allowed him to wear his beard.

Jake Paul and Mike Tyson sold 59,666 tickets for their Netflix-streamed boxing match, which took place back on Nov. 15 inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with an additional 6,500 tickets getting comped by promoters.

That’s according to USA Today Sports.

Those numbers remain impressive when you stack the “Paul vs. Tyson” gate against other combat sports spectacles, but it did not reach the 70,000 fans touted in this press release, nor did it come close to the venue’s 80,000 capacity.Mike Tyson Jake Paul

In addition, ticket prices were slashed roughly two weeks prior to fight night.

Paul defeated Tyson by way of unanimous decision after eight rounds of ho-hum action. In addition, Netflix was slapped with a class-action lawsuit over streaming issues that caused several thousand viewers to miss the entire show.

There’s a lot of that going around these days.

Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather‘s run on buying real estate continued on Tuesday, putting pen to paper to purchase a building in Midtown Manhattan along Sixth Avenue that stretches almost a quarter of a block.

The building on the southeast corner of the intersection at 47th Street contains offices, a few jewelry storefronts, and a large billboard.

Mayweather became interested in the property, which he is paying $20million for, due to his past spending at lavish stores along the block, per TMZ.

The property is in an attractive part of New York City, a few minutes east of Broadway and three blocks south of Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center. Floyd Mayweather

‘I used to shop in the diamond exchange as a young adult,’ Mayweather told the outlet. ‘I never thought I would end up owning this important property at the entrance of 47th street.’

‘Through hard work and dedication anything is possible.’

In October, Floyd’s real estate spre

Last month, he bought the Versace Mansion in Miami.

Mayweather’s net worth is valued at $1.5billion, with his real estate investments not only giving him a path to make more money, but to keep his personal brand front and center. Floyd Mayweather UFC

Mayweather has not fought since a 2017 knockout of Conor McGregor, with him considered arguably the best defensive boxer in history.

Now, it is only a question of how many more pieces of real estate Mayweather wants to acquire.

e began, purchasing 60 buildings in New York City worth more than $400million.

Floyd Mayweather—the real estate mogul. You might not associate the American boxer with strategic investment and a well-thought-out investment amid his popular cash-splashing image. But that’s not the case. The American boxer is becoming one of the biggest names in Manhattan’s real estate world, and he took another step towards it when he made a $20 million investment on Christmas Eve.

The TMZ reported that Mayweather, 47, bought a $20 million-worth corner unit on 6th Avenue (and 47th Street) in Manhattan. Why did he buy it? Two reasons. One, the former world champion, used to visit it during his young adulthood days for lavish shopping and has some fond memories attached to it. Second, the unit comes as a whole package, which includes offices, a diamond exchange, and a large billboard. You can expect him to put it to good use and add more balance to his already heavy bank balance.

‘Money’ declared in a statement, “I used to shop in the diamond exchange as a young adult. I never thought I would end up owning this important property at the entrance of 47th Street.”Floyd Mayweather

You might recall this comes after he invested $402 million in a deal in November that helped him secure over 60 buildings in New York, through which he would provide affordable housing to struggling families. “Growing up, I used to dream about owning just one home by myself. When you work hard, you can achieve anything,” he said while securing the deal.

You might recall this comes after he invested $402 million in a deal in November that helped him secure over 60 buildings in New York, through which he would provide affordable housing to struggling families. “Growing up, I used to dream about owning just one home by myself. When you work hard, you can achieve anything,” he said while securing the deal.

Mayweather even recently became a partner with Go Partners and invested $100 million in equity in partnership with them. The reason? To invest in a $3B portfolio. For that, he founded Vada Properties, his new firm focusing on this high-end deal. It seems he is ready to take the real estate world with his acumen and tactics, just like he did in the squared circle before that.

What do you make of this latest investment by Floyd Mayweather on Christmas Eve? Do you think it’s a worthwhile investment? Let us know in the comments below.

 

Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr. has reached an agreement to purchase a New York City building for more than $20 million, per TMZ Sports.

TMZ Sports reported that the building currently has offices, a diamond exchange and a large billboard.

“I used to shop in the diamond exchange as a young adult,” Mayweather said in a statement, per TMZ Sports. “I never thought I would end up owning this important property at the entrance of 47th Street. Through hard work and dedication anything is possible.”

Per Suzannah Cavanaugh of The Real Deal, Mayweather reached a $402 million deal to buy more than 60 buildings (totaling over 1,000 units) in New York City. The buildings are mostly in Upper Manhattan. TMZ Sports reported that Mayweather wants to provide affordable housing to families. Floyd Mayweather

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