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Former undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez remains one of boxing’s most sought-after opponents, thanks to the lucrative paydays that come with stepping into the ring against him. While many fighters dream of landing a bout with ‘Cinnamon,’ fans have their sights set on just a few murky names—one of them being former undisputed welterweight champion Terence Crawford.

The idea of a potential Canelo-Crawford clash has sparked widespread debate within the boxing community. Many argue that such a fight would be an uphill battle for Crawford, citing the significant size difference and the fact that he would need to climb multiple weight classes just to make the matchup possible. Critics believe this daunting challenge makes Crawford’s chances of beating Canelo slim at best.

However, renowned trainer Teddy Atlas, who once guided former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, holds a different perspective. While speaking about the potential fight on his YouTube channel (THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas) a handful of days ago, the Hall of Fame trainer suggested he would not count out Crawford in a fight against the Mexican superstar.

“[Errol] Spence is a good Olympic fighter, world champion, undefeated, good solid fighter. [Crawford] took him apart,” Atlas said. “Took him apart. Now has he gotten a chance, Crawford, to fight a lot of other guys that would test him in those areas… He hasn’t really gotten a chance to fight too many of them.”

Despite that, Atlas feels Terence Crawford would handle himself against Canelo Alvarez. “But everyone he’s fought, he’s handled,” he added in his YouTube video. “This would be a great challenge for him against a tremendous fighter. I’m not betting against Crawford. That’s the bottom line.” That said, while no official announcement of such a fight has been made, Canelo knows what he wants to make this fight.

Canelo Alvarez sets an astonishing price on Terence Crawford fight

Back in August, Canelo Alvarez set a staggering price for a potential fight with Terence Crawford, stating he would need $150 million to step into the ring with the former undisputed welterweight champion. Speaking after a press event promoting his September 14 bout with Edgar Berlanga, Canelo told reporters he’d fight Crawford “if the money is right.” When asked if $100 million would suffice, the Mexican superstar raised the bar, responding, “$150 million.”

Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh, known for bringing mega-fights to life, initially showed interest but has since dismissed the matchup. On social media, Alalshikh announced he’s no longer pursuing the fight, hinting at frustrations with Canelo’s demands. There’s a good possibility that Canelo’s demands are nothing but a negotiation tactic to increase his payday, but until then, Crawford must explore other options to stay active.

BOXING

Claressa Shields to defend heavyweight world titles, fight for vacant title in Flint

Flint native Claressa Shields will defend her unified titles and fight for the vacant WBA Heavyweight World title against undefeated contender Danielle Perkins on Feb. 2.

The Salita Promotions event, dubbed “Super Brawl Sunday” will take place at Dort Financial Center in Flint and air live globally on DAZN.

Shields, who is widely known as the “GWOAT” (Greatest Woman of All Time), is undefeated at 15-0 with three knockouts. She won the WBC heavyweight title (and the vacant WBO Lt Heavyweight title) in July when she knocked out defending champion Vanessa Lepage Joanisse.

Shields is also the current, reigning Unified Middleweight World Champion.

Shields adds another chapter to her remarkable career that now includes a feature film. Shields is the subject of an upcoming theatrical film chronicling her incredible life story. The biographical drama, titled The Fire Inside, premieres in theatres on Christmas Day and spans her rise from humble beginnings in Flint to becoming a two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist.

“I feel so blessed at this point in my life and my career,” said Shields. But make no mistake, every blessing came with blood, sweat, and tears behind it. My home in Flint helped make me the person I am today. That city, with all its struggles and strengths, built something in me that can’t be broken. Without Flint and the determination I developed there at a young age, I don’t know if I’d be here today. I can’t wait for this homecoming event. Danielle Perkins is undefeated and a strong contender, but I’ve been fighting my whole life, not just in the ring. Whether it was in my personal life, in the amateur boxing ring, or as a professional world champion, I simply do not fail. February second will be no different.”

“Claressa Shields has been breaking glass ceilings for her whole career,” said Dmitriy Salita, president of Salita Promotions. “She was the first American boxer to win two Olympic gold medals. She was the first woman to headline an event on premium television. She is the only two-division Undisputed Women’s World Champion, and she has the chance to make history yet again unifying the women’s heavyweight division on this special Sunday event. Claressa is at the peak of her career and has an incredible film coming out honoring her life, achievements and determination. We could have taken this event anywhere in the world. Claressa wanted to come back to Flint to share her success with her fans and to give the city of Flint the shine it deserves for helping produce an incredible diamond of a world champion.”

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Perkins (5-0, 2 KOs) is a decorated amateur and a survivor.

Before winning gold at the 2019 IBA Women’s World Championships and defeating the tournament’s top seed in the finals, Perkins saw success outside of boxing.

A former collegiate basketball standout at St. John’s University, standing 6-feet tall and 200 pounds, Perkins boasted a successful professional basketball career in Europe.

That was until Perkins sustained severe injuries when struck by a car on a busy city street in Brooklyn. While unsure if she would ever walk again, Perkins’ undeniable pursuit for greatness drove her to a full recovery and, ultimately, to the sport of boxing.

Perkins earned the WBC No. 1-ranked, mandatory position with a unanimous-decision win over Christianne Fahey on the undercard of Shields vs. Joanisse in July.

Known for her power and technique, Perkins has made a name for herself with an unblemished record and relentless drive to claim a world title.

“I am more than excited to get in ring with one of the best fighters in the world,” said Perkins. “I am looking forward to showcasing my skillset to the world and winning my second, third and fourth title belts in Flint. I won the WBC Silver belt there in 2020 and I coming back to make another statement.”

An announcement regarding ticket sales for the event will be made soon.

BOXING

Tyson Fury warned by Oleksandr Usyk he won’t get same treatment as Anthony Joshua

Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury will do battle once again on Saturday night, with the Ukrainian vowing to go for the knockout in his blockbuster heavyweight title rematch with the ‘Gypsy King’

Tyson Fury has been given a stern notice from Oleksandr Usyk: the Ukrainian will not be as forgiving as he was with Anthony Joshua.

The heavyweight champion, boasting an immaculate 22-0 record with 14 KOs, has made it clear he’s aiming for the finish in their upcoming rematch. Having dished out a history-making split decision defeat on the ‘Gypsy King’ back in May to claim the undisputed heavyweight crown – a first since Lennox Lewis in 1999 – the fighters are gearing up for their highly anticipated sequel at Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Arena just days before Christmas.

Fury is set on redemption following his setback in the same venue earlier this year. Despite his formidable record, Usyk has displayed commendable sportsmanship toward his adversaries, as seen in his leniency with Joshua during the tail end of their initial fight in 2021.

Ahead on the scorecards and with Joshua in trouble, Usyk chose discretion over destruction, opting not to press harder in the final moments. Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk, detailed the champ’s outlook, saying: “When he comes to the ring, it’s Oleksandr’s profession, so he has to fight, and he has to win but he doesn’t have to hate his opponent. He loves his opponent. He respects him.

“With a full heart of love, he hits him according to the rules, but he doesn’t feel this anger. He doesn’t feel like he’s doing damage. His objective is to win, and the less damage he does to his opponent the better. This is his philosophy. That’s why he did not knock out Anthony Joshua in the twelfth round,” reports the Mirror.

“He said I’m winning on points. Why should his kids watch his father falling on the ring when enough is done to get the victory? That’s his mindset.” However, the Ukrainian boxer has vowed that he will not go easy on Fury in their rematch.

He told Mail Sport: “Against Fury, it wasn’t me who decided this – it was the heavenly virtues who decided this was the way I would win [decision not KO]. But, if I have an opportunity to knock out Tyson Fury in the rematch, I will take it.”

Usyk defeated Joshua in 2021 to become the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight champion. He then defended his belts against Joshua again in 2022. He knocked out Daniel Dubois in August 2023 before becoming the undisputed champion by beating Fury in May this year for his WBC belt.

However, he vacated the IBF belt shortly after to set up a lucrative rematch with Fury. Since then, Dubois has unified his interim IBF belt by defeating Joshua in a fifth-round knockout last September. However, with Fury and Usyk rumored to be planning a third fight in 2025, it might be a while before we see ‘DDD’ get his shot at undisputed greatness.

BOXING

Tyson Fury insists Anthony Joshua ‘still a great fight’ and says his main motivation is money

Fury is aiming to seize the WBA, WBC and WBO world heavyweight titles held by Usyk when they meet for the second time at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena on Saturday

He may have a heavyweight title rematch with Oleksandr Usyk looming, but former champion Tyson Fury also said he was looking beyond the Ukrainian and a lucrative showdown with British rival Anthony Joshua, saying money, not legacy, was his driving force.

Fury is aiming to seize the WBA, WBC and WBO world heavyweight titles held by Usyk when they meet for the second time at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena on Saturday.

Whatever the outcome, the ‘Gypsy King’ believes there will always be appetite for a domestic clash with Joshua even though his rival’s star has waned after his crushing fifth-round knockout by Daniel Dubois in September.

Fury was ringside at Wembley, part of the Riyadh Season series, to watch Joshua’s dramatic defeat and was caught on camera saying “that’s cost me £150 million”.

The 36 year old insisted the comment was genuine, adding that he and Joshua would have had a two-fight deal where each would have made a “ton of money”.

“Unfortunately doors open, doors close,” Fury said.

Defeat to Dubois was the fourth of Joshua’s 32-fight career, and the manner of it had some observers wondering if he had what it took to reclaim the heavyweight championship, having also suffered back-to-back defeats to Usyk.

Fury, who has won 34 of his pro bouts, with one draw and a defeat to Usyk the only blemishes on his record, insisted that a showdown with Joshua is still a blockbuster matchup that fights fans will pay to see.

“Does it really matter if he has another loss or not? It doesn’t matter. It’s still a big fight,” Fury added.

“Even if he goes in against Dubois and he gets knocked out again … It’s still a great fight. It’s a great fight that we all want to see.”

Joshua has heavily favoured to become a three-time world champion when he faced Dubois, only to be outclassed by a younger opponent.

A rematch looked likely to be his next step, but talks have stalled on a second bout, with Dubois now slated to face New Zealand’s former WBO champion Joseph Parker in Riyadh in February.

Usyk was crowned undisputed champion with a split decision victory in May before relinquishing the IBF belt, which was awarded to sanctioning body’s No 1 challenger Dubois.

Fury reportedly earned close to £100m for the first fight with Usyk but, as challenger, will take the lower percentage for the rematch, which is reported to be worth a combined £150m.

He insisted that the financial rewards were the only reason he continued to box.

“Legacy is my kids. I care about my family, my kids, providing for them, looking after them. That’s it,” he said.

“I’m only doing it for the money. All prize fighters, if they tell the truth, do it for the money. Who here is not doing it for the money?

“I want as much as I can get. I want the easiest fights possible for the largest amounts of money possible.

“I don’t want the toughest fights possible for the least amount of money. I wasn’t born in a Christmas cracker.”

BOXING

Gervonta Davis, Claressa Shields Dragged In as Jake Paul Discredits Boxing Rankings

When Jake Paul entered the world of boxing a few years ago, no one thought he would be this big. The Problem Child is now at the top of the industry, with several world champions issuing a challenge to him. After defeating Mike Tyson last month, he has ascended to a new level.

Nevertheless, the question of Jake Paul not fighting a legitimate active boxer is still persistent. The 27-year-old has wracked up 11 victories in 12 matches. However, none of those victories came against a sanctioned active boxer in their prime. Which raises the question, has Jake Paul done enough to challenge for a title or even rank prominently? Well, FightHype asked the same question to Paul, and he had some snarky things to say.

Jake Paul does not care

During the press conference of the MVP Prospects 10, the self-proclaimed El Gallo declared, “F**k the rankings! It’s a number who cares,” claiming that numbers or rankings do not bother him. According to the 27-year-old, he only cares about the numbers his fights are doing and what he is doing. “People just want to like classify things into a number chart. I’ve never looked at the rankings. I could care less,” claimed Paul.

The Cleveland native further added that he is eventually going to challenge for the world title. He was soaring with confidence and announced, “I’m the best in the world and I’m going to be world champion.”

This is not the first time that Jake Paul has promised to challenge for the world title. He has always claimed that he wants to fight the best fighters. After his fight with Mike Tyson, The Problem Child issued a challenge to Canelo Alvarez and declared himself as the face of the boxing. Furthermore, world champions like Artur Beterbiev, Daniel Dubois, and Gervonta Davis have also challenged Paul after his win over Tyson.

However, the 27-year-old has not officially accepted anyone’s challenge. It looks like Paul knows that he lacks too much at this stage to challenge some of the best pound-for-pound fighters. He currently ranks #129 in WBA’s heavyweight ranking and will have to improve if he wants to challenge for the title, which he will eventually do.

MVP’s co-founder, Nakisa Bidarian, also gave his opinion on the matter and called out the likes of Dubois and Claressa Shields in a brutal manner.

The biggest box office draw

Bidarian declared, “The rankings are, He’s the biggest box office draw in boxing. He’s ranked number one above everybody else,” claiming that Jake Paul is above every other boxer in the world currently. However, he asserted these rankings based on draw rather than skills.

Bidarian further added, “That’s why Dubois is calling him out. That’s why better Beterbiev is calling him out. That’s why Gervonta Davis is calling him out, and that’s why Ryan Garcia is calling him out,” claiming that everyone wants a shot against The Problem Child.

The MVP co-founder then referenced the comment that the women’s undisputed heavyweight champion, Claressa Shields, made in an interview with TMA Sports, where she asserted, “I don’t think Jake Paul has the skills to get in the ring with me. He’s no match for me.”

Bidarian expanded, “Claressa Shields is calling him out. So, it’s you know it’s pretty apparent who the number one ranked fighter in the world is across all weight classes. It’s Jake ‘El Gallo’ Paul,” claiming that The Problem Child has nothing to worry about when it comes to pull and making a fight happen.

BOXING

Gervonta Davis Predicted to Break Gate Records With Lamont Roach Fight

A few weeks ago, the PBC finally announced the confirmed date of Gervonta Davis‘ upcoming fight against Lamont Roach. While the matchup quality left a lot to be desired, seeing Tank back in action excited the fans. The Baltimore native fought only once in 2024 and would make his comeback into the squared circle after almost a year.

However, the excitement turned into a travesty when Davis stated that he would part ways with the sport after 2025. This means that the fight against Roach might be one of the last fights of the 30-0 boxer. As the reality dawned on everyone, the fans started buying the tickets, almost selling out the Barclays Center four months in advance.

On Sunday, ES News shared a video on their YouTube channel to talk about the Lamont Roach-Gervonta Davis fight. The video stated that the upcoming WBA lightweight championship bout might break several gate records. For the uninformed, gate records refer to the revenue generated from ticket sales for a live event at the venue.

The video claimed, “We are 4 months away from Tank Davis vs Lamont Roach and already tickets are flying off the shelf,” revealing a graphic showing the Barclays Center almost sold out. The video further mentions, according to Ray Jackson on ‘X’, 10,000 seats have already sold for the upcoming event. For context, the Barclays Arena has a capacity of 19,000, and more than 50% of the seats have sold out, and we are still three months away.

The video further mentions the fact that “Tank has 12 sellouts in a row and every time he sells out, he breaks records.” The fact that Gervonta Davis has been selling out arenas since 2017 against Francisco Fonseca is just mesmerizing. The Baltimore native has been breaking gate records for a long time and has generated some of the craziest numbers. Let’s take a look.

Tank’s fight against Ryan Garcia set a new standard for gate records as it generated $22.8 million live gate, making it the fifth-largest gate in Nevada’s combat sports history. The event was a spectacle and generated one of the biggest gates in Las Vegas history.

Even when Tank faced Hector Luis Garcia in a rather underwhelming and dull affair, it sold out the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. The fight broke the all-time live gate record at the arena while generating almost over $5 million in ticket revenue. It surpassed the previous record set by the Rolling Stones and became the highest-grossing event of any kind in the history of Capital One Arena.

Tank’s fight against Rolando Romero in 2022 sold out the Barclays Center, with 18,970 fans in attendance, making it the highest attendance for a boxing event in Barclays since it opened in 2022. With the fight against Roach at the same venue, the organizers are hoping for the same number, and with the increased ticket price, we might see a record gate sale for Barclays.

CELEB NEWS

Simone Biles’ Sister-in-Law Showcases Baby Biles Donning WCC Leo While Penning Heartfelt Note for Soon-to-Be Big Sister

The Biles clan is expanding! Simone Biles’ sister-in-law Sammi is expecting her second baby, and naturally, the heaving emotions can hardly be kept hidden. But that doesn’t mean Baby Biles is running short on love or that her love for gymnastics is ignored. Instead, the 7x Olympic gold medalist’s niece is pursuing her passion with gusto, and her mom is fondly cheering her on.

The two-year-old has been one of the biggest fans of her beloved TT Simone Biles in the short time she has been here. And she’s picked up an inkling toward the sport as well. From sporting colorful leotards to mesmerizing the community with her neat skills, the little one has already become a steady member of the Simone Biles fan club. But while the family awaits the welcome of the new one among their fold, Sammi can’t help but feel grateful for the little bundle of joy that’s made her life brighter for the last couple of years.

In her Instagram post from December 13, Simone’s brother’s wife once again noted how Baby Biles has been a blessing. Sharing more pictures of the rising gymnast in a World Champions Centre leotard, Sammi left a special message for her daughter. “God really knew what He was doing when he gave me the precious gift of you,” the post reads as the accompanying images show Simone’s biggest cheerleader perfecting her skills at the gym.

Looking at her daughter carrying the stripes of the same place that forged Simone Biles, Sammi was understandably overwhelmed. “I mean come onnnn,” she wrote in her post’s caption, accompanied by an emoji to highlight her gushing feeling. Ronni, on the other hand, seemed impervious to the fact that her mom was dealing with raw emotions and looked super comfy in her leotard as she kept at the efforts to keep Simone Biles’ legacy alive within the family.

However, this isn’t the first time that Sammi’s firstborn has enthralled the gymnastics community with her wardrobe collection. Having Simone Biles as your aunt almost guarantees you’ll grow up as the apple of the eye of her fans, and little Ronni has managed to give back in kind with her antics. And every time she found a new way to voice her support for her favorite aunt, the fans fell in love with the toddler all over again.

Simone Biles unconsciously teaches her niece industry secrets

Ronni’s leotard collection has already become part of gymnastics lore. Along with that, her moves on gymnastics apparatus have also made many believe that gymnastics runs in the blood of the Biles. Just a few days ago, Sammi’s daughter was once again spotted getting her A-game on as she wobbled through the gym, trying her hands at various moves.

And Simone’s sister-in-law could barely hold it together, seeing her child following in the footsteps of the country’s most decorated gymnast of all time. “I spy our spicy baby girl,” the youngling’s mom posted on social media, reiterating how watching the former blossom into an athlete is making everyone in the family look at her with awe.

CELEB NEWS

Top 5 Matches That Defined Roger Federer’s Unforgettable Career: Including Triumphs Over Nadal and Sampras

Roger Federer, a name synonymous with elegance and unparalleled skill, has left an indelible mark on the world of tennis. For over two decades, the Swiss Maestro was a dominant force, amassing accolades and victories that placed him among the greatest ever, rivaled only by the legendary Jimmy Connors in terms of trophies and holding the record for third-highest prize money earned in the sport.

As the curtain closed on his remarkable career in 2022, tennis fans were left reminiscing about the iconic matches that defined his path to greatness. One such highlight was the breathtaking 2008 Wimbledon final against Rafael Nadal, a match that is rightly celebrated as one of the greatest in tennis history.

Let’s delve into five of Roger Federer’s most pivotal victories that not only shaped his career but also the landscape of tennis itself.

#5 Roger Federer vs Pete Sampras, Wimbledon 2001

Stepping onto the hallowed grass of Wimbledon in 2001 as the 15th seed, Federer was a promising star on the rise. Having just claimed his first ATP title earlier that year in Milan, he was ready to make his mark.

His journey through the tournament was impressive as he bested players like Christophe Rochus, Xavier Malisse, and Jonas Bjorkman, setting up a much-anticipated clash with the legendary Pete Sampras, a four-time defending champion and the tournament’s top seed.

In a match that promised fireworks, it was the 20-year-old Federer who struck first, clinching the opening set in a tense tiebreak. Sampras responded by snagging the second, but the match’s excitement surged into a deciding fifth set. Maintaining his poise, Federer edged out a 7-5 victory in the final set, though he ultimately bowed out to Tim Henman in the ensuing quarter-finals. This victory, however, catapulted him into the spotlight and earned him respect within the tennis community.

#4 Roger Federer vs Mark Philippoussis, 2003 Wimbledon

By the time Wimbledon 2003 rolled around, Federer had established himself as a formidable force in men’s tennis, having peaked at World No. 6 the previous year. Nevertheless, a Grand Slam title eluded him.

As the fourth seed, he cruised through the rounds, defeating notable opponents such as Lee Hyung-Taik and Andy Roddick in the semifinals. The final saw him paired against big-serving Australian Mark Philippoussis. Federer exhibited remarkable composure in his first Major final, sweeping Philippoussis aside in straight sets, thereby officially announcing himself as a premier contender in the sport.

#3 Roger Federer vs Tommy Haas, 2009 French Open

Heading into the 2009 French Open, Federer was already a 13-time Major champion but had yet to capture the elusive title at Roland Garros. Struggling in recent Grand Slam tournaments—particularly with losses to Rafael Nadal—he needed a breakthrough.

In a twist of fate, Nadal was upset in the fourth round, clearing Federer’s path. After navigating through the early rounds with ease, Federer faced Tommy Haas. In a gripping contest, Federer initially found himself down two sets. However, demonstrating his trademark resilience, he turned the match around, winning in five sets, including a decisive bagel in the fifth. This victory set the stage for him to capture his 14th Major title by defeating Robin Soderling in the final.

#2 Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal, 2017 Australian Open

Following a knee injury that forced Federer to end his season prematurely in 2016, he returned for the 2017 Australian Open as the 17th seed—the lowest he had been ranked in a Major in nearly 15 years.

In a stunning turn of events, Federer defied the odds and reached the final, overcoming formidable opponents like Stan Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori. In the finale, he faced his long-time rival, Rafael Nadal, in a clash that was highly anticipated by fans worldwide.

The match unfolded like a classic, swinging dramatically back and forth, particularly in a gripping fifth set. After falling behind 3-1, Federer showcased his relentless spirit and won five straight games to clinch his 18th Grand Slam title, sealing a remarkable comeback.

#1 Roger Federer vs Marin Cilic, Australian Open 2018

With a resurgent season behind him in 2017 that featured two Grand Slam titles, Federer entered the 2018 Australian Open buoyed by expectations. Remarkably, he had navigated the tournament without dropping a single set.

His final opponent, Marin Cilic, was a familiar one, having faced Federer in the Wimbledon final the previous year, where the Swiss emerged victorious in straight sets. However, this time around, Cilic put up a fight, pushing the match to a decisive fifth set. Undeterred, Federer maintained his composure and closed out the match 6-1 in the final set, etching his name in the record books as the first male player to reach 20 Grand Slam titles.

Through these unforgettable matches, Roger Federer not only carved a niche for himself in tennis history but also set the standard for future generations. His legacy will undoubtedly resonate for years to come.

CELEB NEWS

Tiger Woods fans all say the same thing as golf legend shares glimpse into TGL’s high-tech arena

And, with less than a month to go until its launch, Woods shared a sneak peek into the high-tech setup inside the SoFi Center, a purpose-built arena, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida where matches will take place.

ESPN shared a clip of the 15-time major winner testing out the simulator as he fired shots from one of three mats at the giant screen with his driver.

The snippet ramped up excitement among golf fans, as many confessed they couldn’t wait to see the league in action.

One golf fans took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to post: ‘This will be fun to bet on.. Looking forward to the holes they create!’

Actually looks kinda dope lol,’ another said, while a third added, ‘I’m here for it,’ with three fire emojis.

‘At first I thought this idea was dumb, but I am actually kind of excited to watch it now,’ another confessed.

Woods has not played since bombing out of the Open Championship at Royal Troon and subsequently undergoing microdecompression surgery for nerve impingement on his lower back in September.

But other fans took Woods’ form in front of the simulator as a positive update as they seemed shocked at his ability so soon after surgery.

‘Perfect timing of Tigers career to launch this. Can’t wait,’ one fan referenced to Woods’ on-course struggles in recent years due to his health battles.

‘That’s some serious swing speed,’ another added, appraising the golf legend’s game.

‘Thought he just had back surgery now he’s swinging like this,’ one shocked fan questioned, as another echoed, ‘Didn’t he just have back surgery?’

Woods raised concerns among golf fans at the beginning of the month when he opted not to play in the Hero World Challenge.

‘I don’t. I really don’t,’ the 48-year-old admitted when asked if he had a target to return to the course during his pre-tournament press conference as host.

‘I’m just progressively trying to test it, keep making progress without setting it off. I don’t want to have any setbacks, just want to keep making progress and give myself the best chance going into next year as possible.

‘I feel like I’m getting stronger, I’m getting more pliable, but I’ve got a long way to go to be able to compete against these guys.’

But it was later revealed Woods will make his return next week as he continues the tradition of teeing it up alongside son Charlie at the PNC Championship.

Woods also told Sports Illustrated’s Bob Harig that he should be good to go for TGL’s debut in January.

The opening contest of the 15-match season will see New York Golf Club – comprised of Xander Schauffele, Matt Fitzpatrick, Rickie Fowler and Cameron Young – go up against The Bay Golf Club side of Ludvig Aberg, Wyndham Clark, Min Woo Lee and Shane Lowry.

TGL is run by TMRW Sports, the business venture launched by Woods and McIlroy in the summer of 2022.

The league boasts a host of high-profile backers, including tennis legends Serena and Venus Williams along with NBA superstar Steph Curry and Liverpool and Boston Red Sox owners the Fenway Sports Group.

BOXING

Claressa Shields To defend her WBC Heavyweight Title against Danielle Perkins December 2024

On February 2, 2025, at the Dort Federal Event Center in Flint, Michigan, Claressa “T-Rex” Shields, boasting an impressive record of 15-0-0 (3KO), is set to face off against Danielle Perkins, who comes in at 5-0-0 (2KO) from Houston, Texas. This match is particularly significant as it will be for the WBC Heavyweight world title.

Shields last fought in July of 2024, at the Little Caesars Arena, in Detroit, Michigan, when she moved up to the heavyweight division and fought Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse for multiple world titles, winning the bout by a second round TKO in scheduled 10-round bout.

Perkins, also last fought in July of 2024, on the same card in against Christianne Fahey in a six-rounder winning by a unanimous decision.While the matchup is highly anticipated, it’s important to acknowledge the challenges facing women’s boxing, specifically in the heavyweight division. The talent pool in this category is notably sparse, with historically a handful at best of boxers deemed of championship caliber.