Errol Spence Won't Fight Manny Pacquiao; Says Larry Holmes 'F--ked' Up Muhammad Ali
Dec 19, 2022
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 16: Errol Spence Jr. enters the ring against Yordenis Ugas at AT&T Stadium on April 16, 2022 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Errol Spence has no interest in fighting Manny Pacquiao as the all-time great considers a boxing comeback.
"I wouldn't fight him. Larry Holmes is one of the greatest heavyweights. He doesn't get the respect [he deserves]. How he beat Muhammad Ali—he f--ked him up. I think it's because of that," Spence said Monday, per Michael Benson of TalkSPORT.
Spence was originally supposed to fight Pacquiao in August 2021 but had to pull out due to a retinal tear. Pacquiao would instead fight Yordenis Ugas, losing via unanimous decision and announcing his retirement after the bout.
The 44-year-old defeated DK Yoo via unanimous decision in an exhibition earlier this month in his return to the ring. He said he would come out of retirement for matches against Spence or Terrence Crawford.
"Of course I can fight Terrence Crawford or [Errol] Spence. I'm eager to fight with them to test them, to see if they're really a champion," Pacquaio told FightHype. "I've been fighting a lot of boxers at 147, 140, 135, I've been fighting one of the greatest boxers in the world. So, I want to test them to fight with me."
Pacquiao also said he would fight Conor McGregor of Floyd Mayweather if an opportunity presented itself.
Spence clearly has no interest in fighting a diminished Pacquiao, citing Holmes' 1980 pummeling of Ali. Holmes is the only boxer to defeat Ali via stoppage and was the second-to-last fight of Ali's career.
Many felt Ali never should have been allowed in the ring with Holmes in the first place given his declining health at the time.
Bobby Laing: Frank Gore Boxing Fight 'on the Table' After Beating Adam 'Pacman' Jones
Dec 19, 2022
Frank Gore
Former NFL running back Frank Gore appears to be lining up his next boxing match.
Bobby Laing, who defeated former NFL player Adam "Pacman" Jones at Barstool Sports' Rough 'N Rowdy 19 last Friday, told TMZ Sports he and Gore have been in communication and a fight is "definitely an option on the table."
He continued, saying: "I want to do it. He sounds like he wants to do it. It's just a matter of if Barstool is gonna set it up or not."
Gore lost to former NBA player Deron Williams via split decision last December but is 2-0 in professional bouts since. He defeated Olaseyinde Olorunsola via knockout in May and Joshua Romero via technical knockout earlier this month.
Still, he remains best known for his football career.
Gore suited up for the San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills and New York Jets from 2005 through 2020. He was a five-time Pro Bowler and remains third in NFL history with 16,000 rushing yards.
Karim Benzema Retires from International Play After France's Loss in World Cup
Dec 19, 2022
France's forward Karim Benzema looks on during a training session at the Jassim-bin-Hamad Stadium in Doha on November 17, 2022, ahead of the Qatar 2022 World Cup football tournament. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Real Madrid and France star Karim Benzema has announced his retirement from international football after France's defeat to Argentina in the World Cup final.
Karim Benzema announces that he's retiring from international football on his 35th birthday.
"I made the effort and the mistakes it took to be where I am today and I'm proud of it! I have written my story and ours is ending," Benzema said, via Colin Millar of the Mirror.
The 35-year-old made the France squad ahead of the 2022 World Cup, but he suffered a thigh injury in training and was ruled out for the tournament. Though he was not replaced on the roster, he did not stay with the team and chose not to attend Sunday's final.
According to French newspaper L'Equipe (h/t Tom Blow of the Mirror), Benzema "cut off" communication with the team and head coach Didier Deschamps after they wouldn't let him stay following the injury.
Deschamps dodged questions on Benzema's availability after France's first two group-stage games.
"I have 24 players here and I'm thinking about them," he told reporters. "I will let you speak, debate, and imagine, but I'm not going to comment on things that don't concern our daily business."
Asked about Benzema again following victory in the semifinals over Morocco, Deschamps said, "I don't really want to answer that question."
Benzema was not part of France's 2018 World Cup-winning squad amid a blackmail scandal with former teammate Mathieu Valbuena, for which he received a one-year suspended prison sentence. He was also left off the 2010 World Cup roster despite competing with the team during qualifying.
He earned 97 caps across 15 years with the national team yet only appeared in one World Cup, helping the 2014 squad reach the quarterfinal with three goals and two assists in five matches.
The striker has been one of the world's best players at the club level, helping Real Madrid win five Champions League titles. He earned the 2022 Ballon d'Or after winning Champions League and La Liga titles with Los Blancos, scoring 44 goals in all competitions.
Brazil Still No. 1 in FIFA Rankings Despite Argentina Winning World Cup vs. France
Dec 19, 2022
PARIS, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 13: Lionel Messi #30 of Paris Saint-Germain react with Neymar Jr #10 during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and AJ Auxerre at Parc des Princes on November 13, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images)
Argentina may be champions of the world, but they aren't going to be No. 1 in the updated FIFA rankings.
Dale Johnson of ESPN FC noted South American rival Brazil will maintain their top spot this month after reaching the quarterfinals of the World Cup. Brazil lost to Croatia in those quarterfinals, although the defeat came via a penalty shootout.
Argentina won the World Cup for the first time since 1986 thanks to its victory over France on Sunday, which also came via a penalty shootout.
Here is a look at the latest top 10 in the FIFA rankings:
1. Brazil
2. Argentina
3. France
4. Belgium
5. England
6. Netherlands
7. Croatia
8. Italy
9. Portugal
10. Spain
The United States, which advanced out of the group stage before losing to the Netherlands in the round of 16, is the highest-ranked team in the CONCACAF at No. 13. Mexico is No. 15.
Johnson explained Brazil only held onto their top spot because Sunday's final went into a penalty shootout. Had either France or Argentina won in regular time or even extra time, they would have propelled to the top spot.
However, victories that come via a penalty shootout are worth fewer ranking points.
Argentina also defeated the Netherlands in the quarterfinals in a penalty shootout.
Still, Lionel Messi and Co. surely aren't too concerned with the FIFA rankings after prevailing on the sport's biggest stage. It was the first World Cup title for the legendary superstar and was something of a mic-drop moment in the debate about who is the greatest player of all time.
It wasn't without challenge from someone who is well on his way to becoming a part of those GOAT debates.
Kylian Mbappé notched a hat trick, with the first two goals coming in the 80th and 81st minutes after France fell behind 2-0. That flurry forced extra time, but it appeared as if Messi won it with a goal in the 108th minute.
Mbappé wasn't done, though, as he scored the equalizer on a penalty in the 118th minute.
They each converted their attempts in the penalty shootout as well, but Messi's teammates helped his side prevail in one of the most memorable showdowns in the sport's history.
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Seth Lugo Continues Dodgers-Padres Rivalry in World Series Hunt amid MLB Rumors
Dec 19, 2022
Seth Lugo can, and will, help the Dodgers or Padres in their pursuit of the NL pennant.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres both had their 2022 seasons ended by the eventual NL champion Philadelphia Phillies in the postseason.
Now, both California-based teams may be looking to strengthen the depth of their rotation by way of New York Mets reliever Seth Lugo, as reported by Jon Heyman of The New York Post.
Lugo wants to start, and both the Dodgers and Padres should take the necessary steps to make that happen—especially as they try to keep pace with a Phils team brimming with hitters and an American League not bereft of them, either.
Phillies showed interest in Seth Lugo but likely as a reliever. He prefers to start. Padres, Dodgers, Nats among other suitors.
Lugo is an interesting case in that he has experience as a starter but has not been one full-time since 2017 with the Mets. Since then, he has had spot starts and filled that role in seven of his 16 appearances in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season.
While some would suggest it has been too long since Lugo has filled the role of starter to trust that he can come in and seamlessly resume it, the Dodgers are in a position where they can justify it.
Sure, they brought Clayton Kershaw back on a one-year deal and would seem to have a full rotation in place, Dustin May is still in the midst of a comeback following Tommy John surgery.
Rather than throwing him in the mix and expecting him to contribute quality starts, without any sort of insurance policy in case of a setback for the 25-year-old, the team has the opportunity to bring in Lugo and let him bridge the gap.
Lugo played in his most games since 2019 and recorded his most innings pitched since that same year last season. Better yet, he allowed his third-lowest ERA+ and continued his trend of allowing single-digit home runs.
While there is uncertainty as to what those numbers would look like spread out over the course of an entire season in a starter role, it would be better than the Dodgers putting all of their trust in the likes of Ryan Pepiot and Andre Jackson, both of whom are mostly unproven commodities.
Like the Dodgers, the Padres would be looking at Lugo to strengthen their rotation.
The team knows he is not an ace starter or someone who is going to shut down every opposing batter, but in a game that is and always has been reliant on good pitchers making smart decisions and setting their team up for victory, guys like Lugo can absolutely benefit a club pursuing a World Series title.
That the Padres face a number of questions in the 2023 offseason, including the futures of Yu Darvish and Blake Snell as they face free agency, bringing in someone like Lugo to provide stability behind Joe Musgrove will surely put some minds at ease in the clubhouse.
It is safe to say that, looking at the current situations facing the Dodgers and the Padres with their rotations and the lack of depth and experience within, there are far worse options than taking a chance on Lugo as a stater for at least a season.
If it works out and he can give them seven or eight wins, the Dodgers and Padres can be right back in the championship mix. If it does not and the decision has to be made to drop him into the bullpen, the teams have a veteran reliever who can influence the game that way.
It is a win-win scenario for two teams that are built to win now and need the pitching depth to do so.
Considering the intensity and emotion in the rivalry between the two teams in question, snagging the missing piece that catapults one past the other in pursuit of a world title would be icing on top of the proverbial cake and give one squad bragging rights while potentially being the difference between making a World Series appearance and sitting at home.
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