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I won’t be watching Manny Pacquiao’s comeback fight on Saturday. It feels like a shortcut. A nod to nostalgia rather than merit, and that’s unfair to fighters who are working their way up properly.

I realise that might sound harsh given he is one of the sport’s all-time greats, an eight-division world champion. I have immense respect for what he achieved in his prime. He’s a global icon, a true legend.

But he is 46. It has been six years since his previous pro win and the last time we saw him in a ring was in an uninspiring exhibition, which showed just how much his skills have faded.

So with all that in mind, I just cannot understand how he can jump into a sanctioned WBC world-title fight against Mario Barrios.

That’s the part that really shocked me when I heard of Pacquiao’s return. Usually, a fighter coming back from retirement eases into the sport with tune-up fights.

I had a brief exchange with Mauricio Sulaiman, the WBC president, on social media about this. He wasn’t pleased with my doubt but, in my view, it sets a strange precedent and undermines the fighters who have been grinding their way up the ranks, paying their dues with tough fights.

We’ve seen comebacks before. We saw one with George Foreman, who fought his way back, winning tough fights en route to regaining the heavyweight title at the age of 45.

Pacquiao, however, hasn’t fought a competitive bout in years. In the exhibition against Japanese fighter Rukiya Anpo last year, his movement was slow and his timing was completely off.

From a trainer’s point of view, it’s incredibly difficult to coach someone who is so far beyond their peak.

Pacquiao’s style was very high energy – bouncing around, moving off angles and using his sharp reflexes. That’s brilliant when you’re young and fresh.

But when you’re 46, you simply can’t keep that up for 12 rounds. Your legs get tired. Your reflexes slow down. And when you get hit in the body, it slows you even more. Barrios will certainly try to work the body to slow Pacquiao down.

Opponents will study his movement and timing in the gym and build a strategy to exploit any weaknesses.

Perhaps Team Pacquiao think they can get the win because Barrios isn’t the strongest champion in the division and is a beatable boxer. But he is a good fighter, puts his hands together well and experienced at top-level boxing.

The reality is, Pacquiao can’t improve on what he did six years ago. It’s going to be a huge challenge and I do expect Barrios to beat him up.

The worst thing that could happen? Pacquiao puts on a decent enough show, a moral victory, and thinks he can carry on – that would be dangerous long term.

Maybe Pacquiao is chasing the old days, but I do hope it’s not just for the money. It would be sad if he’s boxing again purely for a payday.

For my generation, Pacquiao’s greatness is secure. A lot of fighters go on one or two fights too long; Sugar Ray Leonard did the same. It’s sad, but it doesn’t take away from their legacy.

Some younger fans, who only know him from social media, may judge him on what they see now – not really appreciating what he did in the past.

Pacquiao’s comeback does raise important questions about how boxing manages fighters returning at an advanced age. Should there be stricter rules or age restrictions? It’s a tricky balance.

Boxing is a sport where fighters’ health and safety must come first, but it’s also about individual choice. They’re all adults.

Medical checks are in place, but clearly they don’t stop everyone from fighting too long or jumping straight into top-level fights.

I’m not sure a hard age limit is the answer. Fighters like Bernard Hopkins and Foreman have shown it’s possible to compete at an elite level into their late forties, albeit they are one of a few anomalies.

It’s more about case-by-case assessments – how well a fighter moves, how much punishment they’re taking. Getting hit at 46 is a lot more dangerous than at 26.

Former Manchester United defender Axel Tuanzebe is suing the club for alleged negligent medical advice.

The 27-year-old, who joined Burnley earlier this month, filed a legal claim with the High Court against United last week.

It relates to a period from July 2022 involving an unknown injury and is considered a high value claim, which is understood to be more than £1m.

Tuanzebe was out for 195 days in his final season at the club before he was loaned to Stoke in January 2023, where he made just five appearances.

He joined the club when he was eight, making his debut in 2017, and played 37 times for them before leaving in the summer of 2023, joining Ipswich as a free agent that September.

The right-back captained United at every level and his final appearance for the club was in the 2021 Europa League final loss to Villarreal, where he scored in the shootout as they lost 11-10 on penalties.

The former England Under-21 international – who now represents DR Congo – also had three spells on loan at Aston Villa, while he also spent time at Napoli in 2022.

United States v England

Date: Saturday 19 July Kick-off: 20:00 Venue: Audi Field, Washington DC

Bristol’s Gabriel Oghre and Leicester’s Jamie Blamire will link up with England to solve a hooker shortage before Saturday’s Test against the United States.

Jamie George, co-captain for the summer tour, has been called up to the British and Irish Lions tour, while Theo Dan, who stepped into the starting line-up in place of George for the second Test win over Argentina, has sustained a knee injury.

With Northampton’s Curtis Langdon left as the only fit hooker, head coach Steve Borthwick has called on reinforcements for the third and final fixture of the tour.

Oghre appeared in England A’s win over an Australian second string in November, but is yet to win a cap.

Blamire’s debut came in England’s last meeting with the United States – a 43-29 win at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham in 2021.

The United States slipped to 16th in the world rankings on Monday after losing 31-20 at home to Spain.

The Eagles failed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup, having made all but one of the preceding nine.

The group stage at Euro 2025 is done and dusted.

With 24 games played, we have our eight quarter-finalists – Norway, Italy, Sweden, England, Spain, Switzerland, France and Germany.

At the last Euros, England and Germany triumphed in all three of their group-stage matches without conceding a single goal.

But the 2022 finalists haven’t had it as easy this time around, finishing second in their respective groups.

The Lionesses’ title defence got off to a poor start with a 2-1 defeat by France, while Germany’s group stage fizzled out with their heaviest-ever Euros defeat – a 4-1 thumping by Sweden.

England have clawed back some momentum with commanding performances against the Netherlands and Wales, scoring 10 goals across those two matches.

The ‘three-peat’ is still on for Sarina Wiegman, who led England to the title five years after guiding her native Netherlands to the trophy. She has overseen 14 victories at the Euros – more than any other manager.

“We learned England can score goals. There is depth on the bench and they can come on and make a difference,” ex-England keeper Karen Bardsley said after their 6-1 triumph over Wales.

“What I have been impressed with generally is their fluidity of the rotations from the entirety of the team.”

There has been no shortage of goals at Euro 2025, with a new record of 89 set.

That beats the 78 goals from 2022 and the 53 from 2017, when the tournament first changed to a 16-team format – up from 12.

Long-range screamers have also become more common, with 10 goals scored from outside the box – four more than the previous tournament.

Favourites before the start of the tournament, Spain have laid down their marker by sweeping past Portugal, Belgium and Italy.

The world champions scored 14 goals – three more than anyone else – to equal the group-stage record set by England at Euro 2022.

France, meanwhile, have made a statement by winning Group D – regarded as the toughest group at the tournament.

“Initially we thought this group was a death group and we got nine points,” France manager Laurent Bonadei said. “We can be proud and satisfied. It was not easy, but we made it.”

Sweden surpassed expectations in Group C as they won all three games and beat eight-tim European champions Germany to top spot.

Peter Gerhardsson’s side finished the group stage with the best defence, conceding just one goal.

“Sweden are going to be a difficult team to beat. They’re well-balanced and solid,” said former Wales defender Danny Gabbidon.

Norway also took maximum points, but doubts remain over their disjointed performances and defensive frailties after they narrowly scraped past Switzerland, Finland and Iceland – winning by one goal in all three games.

Switzerland have reached the European Championship quarter-finals for the first time, with Riola Xhemaili’s stoppage-time equaliser against Finland keeping the hosts’ Euro 2025 dream alive.

The hosts will head into their last-eight tie against Spain as the underdogs.

But Pia Sundhage’s team can compete physically, with talented players such as Geraldine Reuteler well-equipped to provide a spark.

Reuteler has created the most chances (seven), taken the most shots (nine) and recorded the most carries (36) at the tournament so far.

Italy arrived at the tournament as dark horses, and while they finished second in Group B, they can take confidence from the fact that they posed a threat to Spain, the top-ranked team, despite losing 3-1.

Esther Gonzalez has been prolific in front of goal during Spain’s successful group stage, leading the top scorer charts with four goals.

Her team-mate Alexia Putellas is second on the list with three goals to go with her four assists – which could factor into who wins the Golden Boot award.

England’s Beth Mead was the top-joint scorer with six goals at Euro 2022, but her four assists won her the Golden Boot over Germany’s Alexandra Popp.

The group stage has unfolded across eight venues, where visiting fans have been treated to picturesque towns, crystal clear lakes and rivers, along with breath-taking alpine scenery.

Supporters have packed out the fan zones dotted around each city, while the fan marches to the stadiums have buzzed with noise and colour to build lively atmospheres before kick-off.

For Switzerland’s three games, a sea of red has flooded the streets of Basel, Bern and Geneva, while supporters of the Netherlands and Iceland have also pounded the pavements in their thousands, clad in national colours.

And, while Switzerland doesn’t have stadiums the size of Old Trafford or Wembley, that were used in 2022, crowds have turned out in force, with most games played to near-capacity crowds.