Category sport-news

Melissa Jefferson-Wooden produced a stunning performance to win the women’s 100 metres world title on Sunday.

The 24-year-old American timed 10.61 seconds in a new championship record, the joint third-fastest time in history.

Jamaican youngster Tina Clayton took silver in 10.76 seconds, with Olympic champion Julien Alfred third in 10.84 seconds.

READ ALSO: 10 Years After Usain Bolt, Jamaica’s Seville Wins Men’s World 100m Gold

There was to be no medal farewell, at least in the individual event, for five-time world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

The 38-year-old Jamaican legend — her hair dyed in the national flag colours on her last appearance in a major individual final — found her legs just could not keep up with the younger rivals, and she finished an honourable sixth.

Jefferson-Wooden had finished a distant third behind Alfred in last year’s Olympic final, the St Lucia star making a great start to power away.

This time round it was the reverse, as starting next to each other, it was Jefferson-Wooden who burst from the blocks, Alfred rather leaden-footed.

Instead, it was two-time under-20 world champion Clayton, whose twin sister Tia had better form on the circuit but flopped in the national trials, who challenged Jefferson-Wooden.

However, the American was brooking no argument as she eyed her moment to grab the spotlight, which she duly did.

Alfred came back a bit and gained some consolation in taking the bronze, although she was nothing like the runner who had looked sublime in the semi-finals earlier on Sunday.

Jefferson-Wooden and Clayton celebrated, but Alfred looked disgusted and wandered disconsolately to the changing rooms, the Saint Lucia flag draped over her slumped shoulders.

As for defending champion Sha’Carri Richardson, there was to be no happy ending after she sneaked into the final as one of the two fastest losers.

The 25-year-old American was never in the hunt and finished fifth.

Former world boxing champion Ricky Hatton has died aged 46, Britain’s Press Association news agency reported Sunday.

Hatton was found dead at his home in Hyde, northwest England. Greater Manchester Police said they were not treating the death as suspicious.

A police spokesman said: “Officers were called by a member of the public to attend Bowlacre Road, Hyde, Tameside, at 6:45 am (0545 GMT) today (Sunday) where they found the body of a 46-year-old man. There are not currently believed to be any suspicious circumstances.”

Hatton won world titles at light-welterweight and welterweight and his aggressive style made him one of the most popular British boxers of his generation.

READ ALSO: Japan To Adopt Stricter Measures After Deaths of Two Boxers

Notable opponents including Kostya Tszyu, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

Hatton was frank about the mental health problems he endured following his retirement from the ring.

In July, he announced he would make a return to boxing in a professional bout against Eisa Al Dah in Dubai in December.

Britain’s former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury paid tribute to Hatton.

“Rip to the legend Ricky Hatton may he rip,” Fury posted on Instagram.

“There will only ever be 1 Ricky Hatton. Can’t believe this so young.”

Another former world champion, Britain’s Amir Khan, described Hatton on X as a “mentor, warrior and one of Britain’s greatest boxers”.

Khan added: “As fighters, we tell ourselves we’re strong — we train, we sweat, we take hits, we get up. But sometimes the hardest fight happens in silence, in the mind.

“Mental health isn’t weakness. It’s part of being human. And we must talk about it. We must reach out. We must lean on each other.

“Ricky, thank you for everything. For your fights, your moments of glory, your grit. Thank you for pushing us, showing us what’s possible.

Matchroom Boxing said: “(We are) saddened to hear the news of Ricky Hatton’s passing. Our thoughts and condolences are with Ricky’s friends and family at this tragic time. There’s only one Ricky Hatton.”

Terence Crawford stunned Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez to claim the undisputed super middleweight world boxing crown on Saturday, becoming the first man to win undisputed titles in three weight divisions.

In a fight of razor-thin margins, Crawford poured it on in the closing rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory, improving his unblemished record to 42-0 with 31 knockouts.

Crawford, 37, had jumped up two weight categories to vie for history, having already counted undisputed titles at super lightweight and welterweight among his titles in four — now five — weight classes.

He silenced critics who claimed his sparkling resume was packed with sub-standard opponents and quieted a raucously pro-Alvarez crowd of 70,482 at Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders.

Praise For Opponent

Judge Steve Weisfeld scored the bout 116-112 for Crawford, while Tim Cheatham and Max DeLuca scored it 115-113 for the American, who had nothing but praise for his opponent.

“Canelo is a great champion,” Crawford said. “I’ve got nothing but respect for Canelo. I’m a big fan of Canelo, and he fought like a champion today,” he added.

Alvarez, 35 and a world champion in four divisions, fell to 63-3-2.

Crawford frustrated Alvarez with his agility and speed, losing none of his quickness as he stepped up to the 168-pound (76.2-kg) category.

He weighed in at the same 167.5 pounds as Alvarez, a career high for Crawford, who had never fought above 147 pounds until last year, when he weighed 153.5 in a unanimous decision victory over Israil Madrimov.

Alvarez, boxing’s biggest star for the past decade, simply couldn’t get at him as Crawford used his jab and landed combinations with a vengeance in the closing rounds after wearing the champion down.

Crawford raised his arms and then sank to his knees when the final bell rang, having earned grudging admiration even from the pro-Alvarez crowd.

‘Defeat Doesn’t Define Me’

The Mexican, who will reportedly make $100 million for the fight, suffered his first defeat since dropping a unanimous decision to Dmitri Bivol in May 2022 in a bid for the light heavyweight title.

“A defeat does not define me. Crawford is a great fighter, and you have to give him credit. But I feel the same… I feel good sharing the ring with great fighters like him. If we do it again, it will be great,” Alvarez insisted as he opened the door to a rematch.

Crawford’s Hand Speed

There was little to separate the two through the first six rounds.

In a measured first round from both fighters, Alvarez landed one solid body shot, and he pressed forward more aggressively in the second round, continuing to work the body in a bid to slow the challenger down.

The action was picking up in the fourth, Crawford landing more combinations and proving a slippery target.

Crawford’s hand speed was making a difference in the sixth, and in the seventh, he was making use of his longer reach and outworking the champion, who came off worse in most exchanges.

Both fighters came out firing in the ninth, Crawford punishing Alvarez with a string of combinations.

The American was shaken by an accidental headbutt, but he continued to pour it on and Alvarez could find no answer.

“Thank you. Thank you to all the supporters, thank you to all the haters. We made this a great event,” Crawford told the fans.

The bout was promoted by Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season, which inked Alvarez to a four-fight deal that made him the latest in a growing list of boxers to flock to the kingdom for mega paydays.

Riyadh Season teamed with UFC mastermind Dana White to promote the fight that was streamed globally by Netflix.

Celebrity-Packed Match

Former heavyweight world champion Mike Tyson and Mexican ring icon Julio Cesar Chavez were among a raft of current and former fighters among the celebrities in attendance.

Stars of the entertainment world on hand included Oscar-winner Charlize Theron and actors Mark Wahlberg, Jason Statham, and Charlie Sheen, Grammy-winning musician Kendrick Lamar, Chance the Rapper, Marc Anthony, and YouTuber MrBeast.

READ ALSO: World Athletics Championships: Ajayi Cruises Into 100 Metres Semi-Final

On the undercard, France’s Christian Mbilli and Guatemala’s Lester Martinez brawled to a split decision draw over 10 action-packed rounds, Mbilli retaining his WBC interim super middleweight belt.

Cameroon-born Mbilli is now 29-0 with one draw and 24 knockouts, and as holder of the “interim” tag will have his eye on challenging Crawford — if this wasn’t the American’s last fight.

Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi finished second in the heats at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo to advance to the semi-finals of the men’s 100m.

Ajayi ran a time of 9.88 seconds at a wind speed of 0.3, a second slower than eventual winner and fellow African contingent Gift Leotlel, who ran a time of 9.87 seconds.

His under-10-second time is the 9th fastest in the world this year.

READ ALSO: Kenya’s Chebet Wins 10,000m Gold

Joining the 20-year-old are defending champion Noah Lyles, Jamaican rival Kishane Thompson and Botswanan Letsile Tebogo, who all made easy work in qualifying.

Under pressure from Jamaica’s fast-starting Ackeem Blake, Lyles powered through for the heat win in 9.95sec, Blake taking second in 10.07sec.

Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet won the women’s 10,000 metres title at the world championships on Saturday but suggested she would not attempt a rarely-achieved distance double after a long season.

Chebet, the world record holder in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, clocked a winning time of 30min 37.61sec for the first track gold of the championships in Tokyo.

Italy’s Nadia Battocletti claimed silver in a national record of 30:38.23, while Ethiopia’s defending champion Gudaf Tsegay took bronze in 30:39.65.

“It was a tough, very tactical race, but I ran the the last 800 metres really hard,” Chebet said.

“I have never won a gold at the world championships so I was sure I had to get it. That was running in my mind during the race. This title means a lot to me and hope it will motivate young athletes out there.”

Chebet took last year’s Paris Olympics by storm as she won both the 5,000m and 10,000m crowns, and it was thought she would target a world double in Tokyo.

Two past winners of the women’s 10,000m at the world championships have also completed the double by winning the 5,000m: Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba in 2005 and Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot in 2011.

Cheruiyot was also the last Kenyan woman to claim the 10,000m title, in 2015.

But Chebet suggested that she would not take a crack at the double.

“The season has been long so we are going to close the season and go for holiday,” she said.

‘I had to push’

The 10,000m race itself was predictably tactical.

Chebet took over the lead with 14 of the 25 laps remaining at the head of a six-strong pack including teammate Agnes Ngetich, Tsegay and her two Ethiopian teammates Ejgayehu Taye and Fotyen Tsefay, and Battocletti.

Chebet slowed the pace for Ngetich to take over at the halfway mark.

Tsefay was dropped as the remaining quintet surged and slowed, with all indications pointing to a sprint finish in sultry conditions at a sell-out 55,000-capacity National Stadium.

With five laps to go, Ngetich was still in charge of pacing, Battocletti sticking on the inside shoulder.

Tsegay bolted with 1km to run, her teammate Taye immediately dropped and the pack was now four.

It was Tsegay who led them through the bell, but at the 150m mark, Chebet kicked, followed by the Italian.

“Tsegay pushed a lot and I had to keep going,” said Chebet. “I ran 1,500m in the Diamond League meet in Silesia, so my mind was like I was at the 1500m race.

“I had to push and follow, and motivate myself, but I wanted that gold medal so much.”

Chebet turned on the gas down the home straight and held on for a memorable gold.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick lashed out at the Spanish national team on Saturday after Lamine Yamal was ruled out of his team’s La Liga clash against Valencia.

The 18-year-old winger did not train with the Spanish champions because of a groin issue ahead of the game on Sunday, and is also a doubt to face Newcastle in the Champions League on Thursday.

Yamal played twice for Spain in 2026 World Cup qualifying wins against Bulgaria and Turkey last week.

“He will not be available — for me it’s a pity. He went to the national team with pain, he did not train, he got painkillers for playing,” Flick told a news conference Saturday.

“In every match they were three goals (or more) ahead, he played 79 and 73 minutes. Between the matches he didn’t train. This is not taking care about players.

“Spain have best team in the world best players in the world. In every position they are unbelievably good. Maybe also when we want to take care of players, young players, it’s like that, doing this… I’m really sad about this.”

Flick said he had spoken briefly to Spain coach Luis de la Fuente via text message but their communication could be improved.

“Maybe it’s all about my Spanish not (being) good, his English not good. Communication… there could be better,” continued former Germany coach Flick.

“I was also on this side, (coaching a) national team, and I know how hard this job can be, but the communication with the clubs was always good.”

Flick confirmed Frenkie de Jong would also miss the Valencia game but midfielder Marc Bernal is fit to return to the squad for the first time since suffering a long-term knee injury nine months ago.

Barcelona will play the game at their 6,000 capacity Johan Cruyff training ground because the Spotify Camp Nou is not yet ready to be reopened.

“I spoke with the players, the captains, and they said it will not affect us,” said Flick.

“When we play at the new Camp Nou, 105,000 (capacity), maybe it’s a little bit different to playing at the Johan.

“As I said before it’s not an excuse, I will not use it, Valencia also has to play in this stadium.”