BOXING
Alvarez signs fights deal
Canelo Alvarez has agreed to a four-fight deal with Riyadh Season, with the Mexican superstar leveraging a widely speculated bout with Jake Paul for a much bigger contract. Turki Alalshikh, the head of Riyadh Season and the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia, announced the deal on Thursday on social media. “Don’t mess with the lion,” Alalshikh said. Alvarez quickly replied: “Let’s go brother.” The first fight under Alvarez’s new deal would be in May in Riyadh. Ring Magazine, citing a source with knowledge of the details, said that a bout against Terence Crawford was planned for September in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium. Alvarez has spent years as the biggest moneymaker in boxing, and the 34-year-old super middleweight champion used the threat of a stunt fight against Paul to leverage a major commitment from the Saudi Arabian government arm that has flooded the sport with money in the past few years.
Photo: AFP
RUGBY UNION
Etzebeth’s symptoms return
South Africa star forward Eben Etzebeth has had a return of concussion symptoms and has been sent to specialists, ruling him out of action for the immediate future, his club the Sharks said. The lock forward is a two-time World Cup winner with the Springboks and his performances last year saw him nominated for World Rugby’s Player of the Year for a second successive time. Etzebeth has not played since being diagnosed with concussion in the Sharks’ 39-21 home win over the Exeter Chiefs in the European Champions Cup on Dec. 7 last year. Etzebeth had “suffered a return-of-symptoms of his recent concussion,” the Sharks said. “The Sharks take this injury very seriously and player welfare remains our top priority. Eben is being managed by concussion specialists. He will be cleared to return once they are fully satisfied that his injury has completely resolved.”
Photo: Reuters
CRICKET
Iyer cuts movie short
India middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer had to cut short a movie night and turn in earlier than planned on Wednesday, but a match-defining half-century against England the next day made it all worthwhile. Iyer’s belligerent 59 off 36 balls set up India’s comfortable chase of 249 in the one-day series opener, which the hosts completed inside 39 overs to go 1-0 up in the three-match series. The previous evening, a call from captain Rohit Sharma informed Iyer he would be playing the series opener as Virat Kohli had been laid low by a knee niggle. “I was watching a movie last night, I thought I could extend my night, but then I got a call from skipper saying that you may play because Virat has got a swollen knee,” Iyer told broadcaster Star Sports after India’s four-wicket victory. “And then [I] hurried back to my room, went off to sleep straightaway.”
Photo: AFP
TENNIS
Andreescu’s return delayed
Former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu will delay her start of the season after undergoing an emergency appendectomy, the 24-year-old said on Thursday. After withdrawing from the season-opening Auckland Open and the Australian Open for a second straight year, the 2019 US Open champion was set for her comeback at the Merida Open in Mexico, running from Feb. 24 to March 2.
Photo: AFP
Inter on Sunday were given a letoff when they snatched a late 1-1 derby draw with AC Milan, while league leaders SSC Napoli were held by a late goal at AS Roma. Reigning champions Inter remain three points behind Napoli, who looked to be heading five clear as they led in Rome until Angelino volleyed in a stunning leveler in the first minute of stoppage-time. Angelino’s strike gave even more significance to Stefan de Vrij’s last-gasp equalizer at the San Siro. The defender forced home Nicola Zalewski’s knockdown just as it looked like Tijjani Reijnders’ opener would be enough for Milan. “I can
The Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets on Saturday did not disappoint in a thrilling midseason matchup in front of a fired-up sellout crowd of more than 18,500 fans. The top two teams in the NHL delivered with a combined nine goals, including the 877th of Alex Ovechkin’s career to put him 18 back of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record. That tied the score, the Jets pulled it out in overtime and just about everyone involved got their money’s worth out of the 5-4 game. “We knew how we were both sitting in the standings and both having real good years,” Winnipeg coach Scott
BACK-TO-BACK: The League One club, which is owned by stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, is sparing no expense to clinch promotion to the Championship Hollywood endings are pricey, even in England’s third division. In pursuit of their third straight promotion, Wrexham AFC splashed some cash at League One rival Reading to secure the services of striker Sam Smith. The Welsh club owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney confirmed the signing of the 26-year-old Smith on Friday. He is one of the top scorers in the third division. The transfer fee was not disclosed, but British media widely reported it to be about ￡2 million (US$2.48 million) — not extravagant, but a hefty price at this level and it would be about the same figure that
Santiago Castro on Tuesday had an immediate impact off the bench as he scored the goal to send Bologna into the Coppa Italia semi-finals for the first time in 26 years. Bologna won 1-0 against last year’s runners-up, Atalanta BC, and are to play either holders Juventus or Empoli in the final four. Juventus are to host Empoli in their quarter-final on Feb. 26. The last time Bologna reached the semi-finals was in 1999, when they lost 4-2 to ACF Fiorentina. There were chances for both sides in a high-tempo match in Bergamo, but it was Bologna who broke the deadlock 10 minutes from
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