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Garbine Muguruza, the former world No 1, Wimbledon and French Open champion, announced her retirement at a news conference on Saturday; Muguruza has not played since announcing a hiatus from tennis in early 2024

Former world No 1 Garbine Muguruza has announced her retirement from professional tennis at the age of 30.

The 30-year-old Spaniard won the French Open in 2016 before lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish on Centre Court the following summer but she had not played a competitive match since January 2024.

At a press conference where she was announced as a Laureus Ambassador, Muguruza said: “If 25 years ago, when I started hitting my first tennis balls, someone had told me that I would become a professional tennis player, that I would fulfil my dream of winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon, that I would become No 1 in the world and win the WTA Finals, I would have thought this person was crazy.

BOXING

Claressa Shields knocked out Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse in second round to secure light-heavyweight and heavyweight world titles

Claressa Shields floored Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse on three occasions in second round knockout win in Detroit; the American star stepped up two weight classes to fight for the WBO light-heavyweight title and also claimed Lepage-Joanisse’s WBC heavyweight belt

Claressa Shields knocked out Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse with ease in the second round to secure world titles in a fourth and fifth weight division.

Shields stepped up two weight classes to fight for the WBO light-heavyweight title and also claimed Lepage-Joanisse’s WBC heavyweight belt after flooring the Canadian on three occasions in Detroit.

Spiteful combinations from Shields troubled Lepage-Joanisse from the opening bell and she ruthlessly ended the fight in the following round.

With her back to the ropes, Shields unloaded a flurry of punches that sent Lepage-Joanisse crashing to the canvas.

Lepage-Joanisse rose unsteadily and was floored again by a follow up attack from Shields that ended with a short, sharp right hand.

Another overhand right sent Lepage-Joanisse down again and the referee waved it off, sparking celebrations from Shields and her hometown fans.

“Looking at Vanessa in her fights, she pushed girls back because her legs are very strong,” said Shields.

CELEB NEWS

Simone Biles gets gold, Suni Lee scores bronze in dramatic Olympic final

Simone Biles continues to add to her Olympic resume, and Thursday she became the first woman to ever win two gold medals in the all-around final since Vera Caslavska did so in 1968, according to USA Gymnastics.

Biles clinched her sixth Olympic gold medal and her ninth overall after winning gold in the all-around with a solid floor exercise routine. Earlier in the week she became the most decorated American gymnast with a gold medal in the women’s team final.

If there was ever a question about it, Biles flashed a piece of jewelry just to remind fans of her GOAT status.

BOXING

Manny Pacquiao ‘Deal Done’ To Face Boxing Superstar Later This Year In Exhibition Fight

Manny Pacquiao has long since teased a professional ring return and this year has been no different.

The sport’s only eight-division world champion has been in talks with new WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios to challenge for the title and word from both is progressing well

The hype surrounding such a return was dampened this past weekend in Japan though when Pacquiao returned for an exhibition fight against kickboxer Rukiya Anpo – a three round spectacle at the Saitama Super Arena in which fans and analysts felt he looked every bit his 45 years.

Post-fight, Ryan Garcia entered the ring and praised both men before offering to fight them. It now seems his appearance in Saitama was no coincidence and the Pacquiao callout has been in the works behind the scenes.

In a clip shared on social media platform X, the 25-year-old revealed the plans.

“I was [in Japan] doing a fight deal with Manny Pacquiao. I’m gonna fight him, yeah, an exhibition … I’m fighting Manny Pacquiao, guys, let’s get it. It’s coming soon. We’re trying to work on [a date], end of the year for sure. I’m trying to get more focused, stop drinking, stop doing a lot of the s**t I was doing.”

The news goes against Team Pacquiao’s well-documented talks with Barrios for a fight they say has to happen in December or before due to political commitments in the new year.

Garcia is currently banned from the sport after testing positive for a banned substance when facing WBC Super-Lightweight Champion Devin Haney. The news came within an extremely controversial period for the young fighter for which he has said he will seek help.

BOXING

Floyd Mayweather and John Gotti III face off ahead of exhibition boxing rematch

Floyd Mayweather and John Gotti III kept things respectful this time around.

Mayweather and Gotti face off in an exhibition boxing on Aug. 24 in Mexico City. It’s a rematch of a 2023 exhibition bout between the two that descended into chaos when referee Kenny Bayless halted the fight due to excessive trash talk between the two, causing a near brawl in the ring afterward.

Now the two are set to run things back. Ata press event in New York City on Thursday, both men remained chill before engaging in their first faceoff for the rematch.

Gotti is the 31-year-old grandson of infamous mob boss John Gotti, but made a name for himself as an MMA fighter before transitioning into boxing where he is currently 2-0 as a professional.

The 47-year-old Mayweather is widely considered to be one of the best boxers of his generation and an all-time great. Sporting a perfect 50-0 professional record, Mayweather retired from boxing in 2017 but has since engaged in a number of exhibition bouts like this one, including matchups with Logan Paul and Aaron Chalmers.

Check out the faceoff between Mayweather and Gotti above.

CELEB NEWS

Snoop Dogg’s hilarious reaction to Simone Biles’ Olympics qualifying performance in gymnastics all-around

Snoop Dogg had an eye-popping reaction to Simone Biles‘ Women’s Gymnastics qualification performance during the 2024 Paris Olympics on Sunday.

The iconic rapper, 52, was recently named a special correspondent for NBC and cheered on Team USA in a patriotic ensemble.

Underneath his American flag jacket, Snoop Dogg donned a t-shirt with gymnastics legend Simone Biles’ face printed on it.

Snoop Dogg was in awe at Biles’ performance and a hilarious picture captured him lifting up his sunglasses to reveal a wide-eyed look.

Biles earned a 15.300 score between her two vaults, and also finished the Sunday atop the overall leaderboard with a score of 59.566.

A star-studded crowd attended Biles Olympic return including Tom Cruise, Jessica Chastain, Greta Gerwig, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, John Legend and Chrissy Teigen, Nick Jonas and Anna Wintour.

The 27-year-old gymnast battled through a calf injury on Sunday after an awkward landing during a warmup routine.

The most decorated athlete in the history of gymnastics, Biles made her Olympic return three years after pulling out of multiple finals at the Tokyo Games to protect her safety, which prompted an international discussion about mental health, by powering through discomfort she felt in her calf to lead the U.S. women’s gymnastics team into the finals.

Her husband, NFL player Jonathan Owens, wasn’t in Paris on Sunday to support his wife, but the Bears player cheered her on from afar after she nailed her vault routine.

Owens, who has been in training camp with his new team, posted a proud Instagram story of Biles as he watched her late at night back in the USA.

‘Flawless,’ he captioned a photo of her following her vault routine that he posted to his Instagram story.

She won’t have to compete without her husband there in person for much longer, as the Bears are allowing him to travel to Paris from July 29 to August 3.

Snoop Dogg — whose real name is Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. — has been keeping busy during his time in Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

BOXING

Anthony Joshua to fight Daniel Dubois for IBF world heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium on September 21

Anthony Joshua challenges Daniel Dubois for the IBF world heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium on September 21, live on Sky Sports Box Office; AJ knocked out Francis Ngannou in March while Dubois halted Filip Hrgovic earlier this month

Anthony Joshua will face Daniel Dubois in an all-British heavyweight clash for the IBF world heavyweight title at Wembley Stadium on September 21, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Oleksandr Usyk announced on Tuesday that he had vacated the IBF belt, which means Joshua can regain one of the world titles he previously held if he defeats Dubois, who has been upgraded from IBF interim title holder to the IBF champion.

Joshua has marched back up the heavyweight ranks after suffering two consecutive losses to Usyk, who went on to become the undisputed world champion with his stunning victory over Tyson Fury last month.

The 34-year-old Joshua was outpointed by Usyk in two fights that spanned 2021 and 2022.

He returned with a points win over Jermaine Franklin in 2023, but then followed up with stoppage victories over Robert Helenius and Otto Wallin later that year.

He’s boxed once this year already, taking out Francis Ngannou in just two rounds. Ngannou, a former UFC champion in MMA, was an inexperienced boxer, but he had managed to go the 10-round distance with Tyson Fury in his first professional boxing bout.

BOXING

Claressa Shields thanks Shaquille O’Neal contribution after becoming four-weight champion

She knocked out Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse

Claressa Shields has achieved another milestone in her illustrious career, becoming a four-weight champion by knocking out Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse.

After moving up two weight classes, Shields claimed the WBC heavyweight title, further cementing her status as the Greatest Woman of All Time (GWOAT) in boxing

She celebrated her victory on social media, thanking her supporters and sponsors, including NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, who has been one of her most vocal supporters.

“YEAHHHH GWOAT 15-0, 3KOS Thank you to all my sponsors @SNACsystem, @SHAQ, @area56ent & @ivhydrationandaesthetics,” she wrote on X.

O’Neal, known for his enthusiasm for combat sports, has been a significant backer of Shields, not only promoting her on social media but also sponsoring her through his brand, Shaq.com. His support highlights his belief in Shields‘ prowess and his investment in her career.

Historic achievement

Shields‘ latest accomplishment adds to her already impressive legacy in boxing, and her partnership with O’Neal underscores the strong support she has from prominent figures in sports. Her continued success serves as an inspiration, showcasing her skill and determination in breaking new ground within the sport.

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BOXING

‘It should be the end’ – Manny Pacquiao urged to cancel comeback fight plan after being ‘battered’ in exhibition against kickboxer

Manny Pacquiao has been urged to retire after his difficult exhibition in Japan.

The only eight-weight world champion returned in an exhibition clash against Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo. Still, it was ‘beaten up’ in a difficult fight, which luckily was declared as a draw by default.

Pacquiao is in talks to make a full professional comeback in a WBC world title shot against Mario Barrios, which has been pencilled in for later in 2024.

But BOXXER promoter Ben Shalom believes it simply shouldn’t be happening, but is understanding of his motivations for returning.

He told “I think it’s so hard for fighters, you have seen it in the Olympics with athletes coming back.

“We’ve seen so many fighters come back, you always think back to Muhammad Ali and the damage that those last fights had on his life.

“It is very hard as a promoter to say it, but equally if you have enough money in the bank you have to protect your health.

“I think it showed in that exhibition that it really should be the end, but ultimately stranger things have happened.

“As I say fighters are addicted to that buzz and it is very hard to replace it in those final years.”

Pacquiao looked a shadow of himself as his tallest-ever opponent landed almost two shots per every one he hit back.

Although he ended stronger, it was a worrying sign for the veteran who could have quite easily been defeated if the fight was scored.

‘Pac Man’ hasn’t fought competitively since losing to Yordenis Ugas in August 2021, after which he hung up his gloves as a professional.

BOXING

Floyd Mayweather stuns fans by taking on an unexpected new apprentice

This one hits close to home

Floyd Mayweather comes from a boxing family, and those genes have played a significant role in making him a boxing icon. Mayweather‘s father — also named Floyd — was a welterweight fighter in the 1970s and the 1980s, winning 28 of his 35 bouts and passing on a wealth of knowledge to his son.

Floyd Jr. boxed competitively for two decades, taking part in 50 fights — all of which he won, 27 of them. The Mayweather name is one of the most storied in the sport’s lengthy history, spanning generations of boxing. And Money, now a proud grandfather at 47 years old, is taking steps to ensure that the Mayweather name never leaves fans’ minds.

Meet Meezy

Mayweather’s two-year-old grandson, Meezy, is already following the path toward a future in boxing. The son of Mayweather’s daughter Yaya and star rapper NBA Youngboy, Meezy recently donned a pair of boxing gloves and showed his famous grandpa that the 2030s could be another golden decade for the Mayweather family.

Meezy has even been in the ring already, shadowboxing from a safe distance, with plans maybe already being made for him to join Floyd Sr., Floyd Jr. and great-granduncle Roger Mayweather in pro boxing someday