Author: AFP

Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury marked his latest return to the ring with a unanimous points win over Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday before immediately challenging Anthony Joshua to a ‘Battle of Britain’ super fight.

Two-time former world champion Fury, back after a 16-month absence, won 120-108 on two of the judges’ scorecards, with the other ruling he had defeated his Russian opponent 119-109 after the maximum 12 rounds.

Makhmudov made a strong start to the first round at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, throwing a left and connecting with an overhand right.

But by the third round, Makhmudov was already showing signs of fatigue, with Fury switching stances and hitting a one-two off the Russian’s chin.

The fight, watched by Joshua at ringside, continued in a similar fashion until the final bell.

Fury, who had walked out to the tune Blue Moon in honor of the late Ricky Hatton, who died in September, leaned over the ropes and invited Joshua into the ring after the bout.

Joshua refused, but the two former world heavyweight champions exchanged words, and Fury, 37, was pulled back by the referee before the result was announced.

After his victory had been confirmed, Fury, out of retirement for a fifth time, said: “I challenge you, Anthony Joshua, to fight me next. Do you accept?”

Fury, in his first fight since successive defeats to unified world champion Oleksandr Usyk, and now with a professional record of 35 wins, two losses, and one draw, added: “Let’s give the fight fans what they want.

“Do not run from me this time. Ten years in the making. Let’s dance.”

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Joshua, 36, did not reply immediately but eventually said: “I punched you up when we were kids and I’ll punch you up again.

“You aren’t going to tell me what to do, I’ve been chasing you for 10 years.

“I’m the boss, you work for me. I’m the landlord. You work for me.”

Fury, eventually reflecting on Saturday’s fight itself, said: “I got 12 rounds against a tough opponent, a knockout specialist. That is better than a one rounder against a bum.

“I just took out the number five contender in the world with ease.”

The January announcement of Fury’s latest return to boxing came a week after Joshua was involved in a car crash in Nigeria which killed two of his close friends.

Earlier this week, Fury said the incident was a “defining moment” in his comeback as it made him think “life is very short”.

Fury and Joshua have almost fought on several occasions, only for contract disputes, fitness issues and losses elsewhere to derail previous attempts to get them into the same ring nearer the peak of their careers.

Their camps had reportedly been close to an agreement before Joshua decided to take time out from boxing after the car crash.

But this week Fury said his focus was on Makhmudov, explaining: “Like I said when Daniel Dubois was fighting Anthony Joshua (in 2024), everybody said and all the boxing brains said, ‘AJ will knock him out inside three rounds,’ and they were overlooking him. ‘Are you going to fight Tyson next?’

“And I said you better put some respect on Dubois’ name because he’s going to chin him and that’s what happened.”

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Donyell Malen hit a hat-trick as Roma revived their fading European hopes by cruising past Serie A’s bottom club, Pisa, 3-0 on Friday.

Roma, thrashed by runaway leaders Inter Milan in the last round, regained ground in the race for a top-four place.

“We had a great reaction, and it wasn’t easy because the second half in Milan was very disappointing,” said Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini.

His team moved level with Juventus, who are in fifth place, and one point behind Como in fourth. Como host Inter on Sunday. Juventus visit seventh-place Atalanta on Saturday.

“We’re still there, and now we should be rooting for Atalanta and Inter. We’re giving it our all to reach the Champions League,” said Gasperini.

Pisa remained anchored to the foot of the table.

Malen scored with all three of host Roma’s shots on goal as he took his total to 10 in 12 Serie A appearances since joining on loan from Aston Villa in January.

In the third minute, two visiting players had a chance to intercept a Roma punt forward, but Antonio Caracciolo could only knee the ball into Malen’s pass.

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The Dutch attacker sidestepped one more defender before firing home.

“Serie A matches are never easy; they become so if you break the deadlock after three minutes,” said Gasperini.

Lorenzo Pellegrini hit the angle of post and bar with a free kick before helping set up Malen’s second in the 43rd minute.

After Pisa repeatedly failed to clear, Devyne Rensch, who has yet to score in Serie A, picked up a loose ball in the box, played a one-two with Pellegrini and then poked a pass to Malen, who rolled in from close range.

Malen completed his hat-trick after 51 minutes, running onto a through pass from Matias Soule, turning away from two defenders and driving the ball home.

“He’s incredibly valuable,” said Gasperini of Malen.

“But if you play for Borussia Dortmund and in the Premier League as a young player, you’re bound to have significant resources.

“The central striker role was the key to convincing him to come to Roma.”

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Real Madrid dropped more points in the Spanish title race with a frustrating 1-1 La Liga draw at home against Girona on Friday.

Fede Valverde drilled Alvaro Arbeloa’s side ahead early in the second half, but Thomas Lemar’s fine strike secured a point for the Catalan visitors at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The draw against Girona brought Madrid within six points of La Liga leaders Barcelona, but the Catalans host local rivals Espanyol on Saturday when they could move nine points ahead with a victory.

Madrid head to Bavaria to face Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash on Wednesday, trailing 2-1, in the competition where their hopes of silverware this season now mainly lie.

Los Blancos were upset by a late penalty appeal not given after Girona defender Vitor Reis’ arm caught Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe in the face.

“It’s a penalty here and on the moon,” complained Madrid coach Arbeloa. “Nobody understands it… when VAR gets involved, I imagine it’s when it suits them, and when it doesn’t, then it doesn’t.”

The coach admitted his team were not at their best following a third consecutive game without a win across all competitions.

“Without playing the most brilliant match we’ve played, it’s obvious and clear this is a game we should have won,” said Arbeloa, insisting Madrid would not give up in the title race despite their situation. “Until we lose La Liga, we’ll keep fighting for it… We have to fight until the last day.”

After Jude Bellingham impressed as a substitute in the first leg against Bayern, Arbeloa gave him his first start since January.

Real Madrid had the better of the first half but needed goalkeeper Andriy Lunin to save well from Azzedine Ounahi early on. At the other end, Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga denied Mbappe and Valverde as Los Blancos began to knock on the door.

Bellingham tested Gazzaniga early in the second half with a drive from the edge of the box, shortly before his team took the lead.

Valverde lashed in a shot from the edge of the box, which Gazzaniga tried to push out with his wrists but badly misjudged, and the ball flew past him and into the net.

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Madrid’s top goalscorer Mbappe mis-hit a shot when well placed, and Gazzaniga saved well at his near post to keep Vinicius at bay as Madrid tried to put the game to bed.

Instead, Girona pulled level, with former Atletico midfielder Lemar planting a superb strike from the edge of the box beyond Lunin’s helpless dive and into the bottom corner.

Arbeloa took off England international Bellingham shortly after the hour, with the visit to Munich in mind.

“We saw Bellingham feeling good, sharp, confident,” said Arbeloa. “This is the first game he’s started since coming back (from injury), but I think it’s done him a lot of good to get minutes, find rhythm… and I think we should be very pleased with his performance.”

Madrid’s hopes of a trophy appear to hinge on that match against Vincent Kompany’s side, with only seven La Liga matches remaining to try and overhaul Hansi Flick’s Barca, the reigning champions.

Gazzaniga beat away Mbappe’s shot, and the French superstar appealed in vain for a penalty as he collided with Reis in the box.

The defender caught the forward with his arm as Mbappe tried to dart behind him, leaving the French forward with blood on his face.

Six minutes of stoppage time were added on, but they were not enough for Arbeloa’s underwhelming team to conjure a late winner.

Girona, 12th, could make a late push for a European spot after spending much of the season battling relegation.

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Head coach Mikel Arteta has addressed Arsenal contract ahead of the clash against Bournemouth on Saturday. 

Arteta’s side host Bournemouth on Saturday and second-placed City travel to Chelsea on Sunday as the title race approaches a pivotal moment.

The Gunners are nine points ahead of City, having played a game more than Pep Guardiola’s team.

That lead would increase to 12 points if Arsenal defeat Bournemouth, putting City under intense pressure to take maximum points from their tricky trip to Stamford Bridge.

Asked how important it would be to move further ahead of City, Arteta told reporters on Friday: “The closer we get, the relevance and importance of the match increases, obviously, and tomorrow is a big day for us.

“The players know it, our supporters know it, it’s early kick-off, so get up early, have an early breakfast, bring your lunch, bring your dinner, as you say in England, and let’s go all together for it because it has to be a big day.”

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After losing to City in the League Cup final and to second tier Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals, Arsenal bounced back with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League quarter-final first-leg on Tuesday.

The Gunners are chasing a first English title in 22 years, as well as their maiden Champions League crown.

And Arteta is convinced that they can finish the season with both trophies, which would finally end their six-year silverware drought since lifting the FA Cup.

“First of all, the capacity we have as a club and as a team, the will to win,” Arteta said to explain his belief.

“We recognise the opportunity ahead and we are going to do our best to achieve it.”

Arteta’s Arsenal contract expires in 2027, and the Spaniard remains fully committed to the club after reports of talks over a new deal.

“There’s no news on that. We have no time to discuss that now. The full focus is on what we have to do from here until the end of the season,” he said.

“I am fully committed and really happy and I feel good. My family is good and I still have so much ambition to do with this football club, and for now we are in a good place.

“This job is about the present and what you do on the day. Give your very best and feel that you are the person that can lead and inspire the group to achieve great things for the club.”

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World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday pulled out of next week’s Stuttgart Open, citing an injury sustained at the Miami Open in March.

The Belarusian wrote on social media that she had failed to recover in time for the clay court tournament, which starts on Monday.

“I’m very sad to say that I won’t be able to play the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix this year,” Sabalenka wrote in an Instagram story on Thursday.

“Unfortunately, I suffered an injury after Miami, and even though I tried everything to recover in time, I’m not ready to compete.

“I’m really sorry to miss this amazing tournament. Wishing everyone a great week in Stuttgart, and I hope to see you all again very soon.”

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Notably, the 27-year-old did not specify the nature of the injury.

The four-time Grand Slam winner has made it to the final in Stuttgart in four of the past five years but is yet to win the tournament.

“I always love coming back to Stuttgart. The atmosphere, the fans, and the support I feel there are so special to me. And of course, I was really hoping to have another chance to fight for that Porsche.”

Sabalenka beat local favourite Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 to win the Miami Open to make it a “sunshine double,” having won the WTA 1000 at Indian Wells two weeks prior.

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Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was furious at the decision not to review a strange handball incident in his team’s 2-0 Champions League quarter-final first leg defeat by Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

Atletico defender Marc Pubill touched a ball passed to him by goalkeeper Juan Musso with his hand, to set it still in order to take the goal-kick himself, which Flick said should have been a red card and a penalty.

In the first half, VAR intervened to get referee Istvan Kovacs to review an incident involving Barca defender Pau Cubarsi, who was booked for fouling Giuliano Simeone as he ran through on goal.

After the review, Barcelona defender Cubarsi was sent off, leaving the Catalans with 10 men for the second half.

“The VAR was very focused today for Atletico, he’s a German guy, so thanks Germany,” former German national team coach Flick told reporters. “It’s for me a clear red card.”

In 2024, Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings was punished for a similar infringement in a Champions League defeat against Club Brugge.

Flick said the VAR officials should have asked Kovacs to review the incident.

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“For my perspective, it’s clear, he has to call and say okay come on, look at this, the same like before. I don’t understand,” added Flick.

“I haven’t spoken with the referee. I think it was better not to speak with him. We have to accept it, and focus in the match next Tuesday in Atletico. We have the quality, the players who can decide (this game), and we have to fight.”

Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo said it was “absurd but a clear penalty”.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone said the officials were correct not to intervene.

“There’s common sense,” said the Argentine. “If Marc, who was supposedly receiving a pass to start the play, interpreted it the way he did, and the referee interpreted it the same way Marc did, it’s because there is only common sense about the play.”

Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth’s goals earned Atletico a significant advantage ahead of the second leg next Tuesday in the Spanish capital.

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Holders Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) took a 2-0 lead over Liverpool in their Champions League quarter-final tie as Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored in Wednesday’s first leg in the French capital.

Doue’s shot in the 11th minute looped over goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and, thanks to a big touch off Ryan Gravenberch, Kvaratskhelia then rounded his compatriot to double PSG’s lead 65 minutes into a game they bossed from start to finish.

It only remains to be seen whether the reigning European champions, who had a second-half penalty in their favour overturned after a VAR review, might regret not scoring more goals against a Liverpool side that lined up with three centre-backs and were run ragged.

Liverpool’s game plan could not stop them slumping to a second emphatic loss in five days, even if the scoreline was not as bad as the 4-0 mauling inflicted by Manchester City in the FA Cup last weekend.

It is just one win in six in all competitions for Liverpool, and this was a 16th reverse in total in a difficult campaign.

Slot’s team must try to repeat what they did in the last 16, when they overturned a 1-0 first-leg loss away to Galatasaray by winning 4-0 in the return.

This will be a far tougher task, however, as the sides clash again next Tuesday on Merseyside, where PSG won 1-0 in the second leg of their last-16 tie last season before advancing on penalties.

That was a significant step on their way to winning the Champions League, coming after they somehow lost 1-0 at the Parc des Princes despite completely dominating.

A string of Alisson Becker saves helped Liverpool smash and grab their way to victory a year ago, but the Brazilian was absent here, meaning Mamardashvili started in goal.

Mohamed Salah was also left out of the line-up by Slot, instead taking a place on the bench alongside Alexander Isak with the Swede involved again after suffering a leg fracture in December.

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Hugo Ekitike started up front for Liverpool against the club where he spent 18 months earlier in his career and failed to escape the shadows of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar.

Joe Gomez slotted in alongside Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk as a third central defender, as Liverpool set out to press high but spent the night chasing the ball.

PSG were well in control before they scored, as Doue collected the ball just outside the box, advanced into the area and tried a shot which struck Gravenberch’s boot and took a looping trajectory which left the goalkeeper flummoxed.

Mamardashvili did later save from Kvaratskhelia and Doue, meaning there was just one goal in a one-sided first half in which PSG had 70 percent possession, and Liverpool’s only attempt came from Jeremie Frimpong when he was offside.

The pattern of the contest did not really change after the break, with Ousmane Dembele blazing over before the second goal arrived.

A superb Joao Neves pass released Kvaratskhelia through the inside-left channel, and the Georgian held off Gravenberch before rounding the goalkeeper to tuck in.

Liverpool were then rescued by the Spanish referee’s decision to change his mind after initially awarding a penalty when Konate brought down Warren Zaire-Emery, while also taking the ball.

Small mercies for Slot, who sent on Isak in a quadruple substitution on 78 minutes, but left Salah on the bench.

Dembele hit the post late on for PSG, although they are firmly in control after a ninth win in a game against Premier League opposition since the start of 2025.

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Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth’s goals earned Atletico Madrid a commanding 2-0 lead over 10-man Barcelona in a tense Champions League quarter-final first leg clash on Wednesday.

The La Liga leaders were on top in the all-Spanish tie at Camp Nou before Pau Cubarsi was sent off for bringing down Atletico’s Giuliano Simeone, who was through on goal.

Alvarez whipped home the resulting free-kick, and Sorloth doubled their advantage with 20 minutes remaining to give Atletico a strong chance of reaching the semi-finals.

Diego Simeone’s side, who have never won the competition, reached the 2014 and 2016 finals but were beaten by rivals Real Madrid on both occasions.

Barcelona, semi-finalists last season, need to make a huge comeback next Tuesday in Madrid if they are to stand a chance of lifting the trophy they last won in 2015.

Barca coach Hansi Flick was upset by the use of VAR to punish his side for Cubarsi’s red card but not to analyse a potential handball incident against Atletico’s Marc Pubill in the second half.

The defender touched the ball with his hand after goalkeeper Juan Musso passed it to him to take the goal kick himself, which Flick said should have been reviewed.

“The VAR was very focused today for Atletico, he’s a German guy, so thanks Germany,” complained the former German national team boss. “It’s for me a clear red card, then it (can) change (things) totally.”

Diego Simeone said the decision that was made was “common sense”.

Atletico knocked Barca out of the Copa del Rey in the semi-finals in March, and this was the second of three meetings between the sides in the space of a fortnight.

Barcelona started well, with Marcus Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, their main threat down the left.

On the right flank, Atletico tried to suffocate teenage star Lamine Yamal with defensive numbers, allowing Rashford more room.

The first chances fell to the England international, who scored against Atletico in La Liga on Saturday, but Musso denied him.

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At the other end, Alvarez, who has been linked with a switch to Barcelona in recent months, tested Joan Garcia.

The busy Rashford, constantly escaping beyond Nahuel Molina, volleyed narrowly wide and then rolled a shot into the bottom corner, but it was disallowed for offside in the build-up.

Even though the 18-year-old Yamal was up against three Atletico defenders, he produced some superb skill to break free of their shackles, but Robin Le Normand blocked his shot.

Veteran Atletico midfielder Koke was fortunate to stay on the pitch after fouls on Dani Olmo, Pedri and Yamal were only punished with a yellow card, to Barca supporters’ fury.

Flick’s side were controlling the game with Atletico talisman Griezmann quiet against his former team, but a moment of clumsiness from Cubarsi dramatically gave the visitors the upper hand before half-time.

The 19-year-old centre-back, chasing Giuliano Simeone as he ran through on goal to reach a ball in behind Barca’s defence from Alvarez, clattered the Atletico coach’s son from behind.

Although referee Istvan Kovacs only produced a yellow card for Cubarsi, he upgraded it to a red after a VAR review.

Worse was to come for Barca, with former Manchester City striker Alvarez whipping the free-kick into the top corner.

Barca battled well with 10 men, continuing to create chances for Rashford. Yamal sent the forward through on goal, but after rounding Musso, he could only hit the side netting, and he had a free-kick tipped over.

It was against the run of play again that Atletico snatched their second.

Griezmann and Matteo Ruggieri combined, and the latter crossed for target man Sorloth, who outmuscled Gerard Martin and fired past the helpless Garcia.

Barca tasted defeat at home for the first time since Camp Nou reopened in November 2025, and Atletico coach Simeone won at the stadium for the first time in his 14-year career at the helm of the Rojiblancos.

It was Atletico’s first win at Camp Nou since 2006 and a potential stepping stone towards the trophy they crave most.

READ: Japan to host T20 World Cup 2028 qualifiers at new cricket venue

DUBAI: Japan is set to host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 Qualifier in May at its new cricket venue, built for this year’s Asian Games, said the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Baseball-mad Japan has constructed a cricket stadium for the Asian Games, which are being held in Nagoya and the wider Aichi region from September 19 to October 4.

The new ground in Nisshin, outside Nagoya, will stage the East Asia-Pacific (EAP) qualifiers for the 2028 men’s T20 World Cup from May 8-18.

The biggest East Asia-Pacific qualifying tournament ever will see nine teams battling to move a step closer to the T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

Matches will also take place at the Japan Cricket Association’s headquarters in Sano, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) outside of Tokyo.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for Japan to show our capacity to host pathway events for the EAP Region across multiple venues,” said JCA chief operations officer Alan Curr.

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“We will be stretched like no time ever before, but are confident we can deliver an event that will showcase the best of the EAP region as well as create excitement for cricket at the Asian Games later this year.”

Hosts Japan will be joined at the tournament by the Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Korea, Samoa and Vanuatu.

The tournament will take place in two stages: a Group Stage from 8-10 May, followed by a Super Six Stage from 12-18 May.

Teams are split into three groups of three, and the top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Six stage.

At the end of the Super Six, the top teams will earn their place in the next stage as they look to qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 in Australia and New Zealand.

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Southampton will face Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley after their shock win against Premier League leaders Arsenal.

The Championship side beat the Gunners 2-1 in the quarter-finals at St Mary’s on Saturday. Meanwhile, City thrashed Liverpool 4-0 on Saturday to reach the semi-finals of the competition for an eighth successive season.

Pep Guardiola’s side are bidding to make the final for a fourth consecutive year, having lost to Manchester United in 2024 and Crystal Palace in 2025 following their last win in 2023.

Southampton are dreaming of emulating their shock 1976 FA Cup final victory against Manchester United. Relegated from the Premier League last season, Southampton are also hoping to win promotion via the Championship play-offs.

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Leeds, who lifted the FA Cup in 1972, will meet Chelsea in the other Wembley semi-final after a dramatic conclusion to their quarter-final clash with West Ham on Sunday.

Daniel Farke’s team led 2-0 at the London Stadium, but West Ham scored twice in stoppage time to force extra time.

Leeds eventually won 4-2 on penalties to earn a place in the last four for the first time since 1987, when they were beaten by Coventry.

Chelsea, 7-0 winners against third-tier Port Vale on Saturday, famously beat Leeds in a brutal 1970 FA Cup final that went to a replay.

READ: Leeds beat West Ham to reach FA Cup semi-finals after 39 years