Sports

7:51 AM ET Mike CoppingerESPN Gary Russell Jr. is boxing’s longest-reigning champion. As of Saturday, he’ll have held his title for 2,493 days. While he’s undoubtedly one of the most talented fighters in the world, that status is partially due to his low level of activity. Gary Russell Jr. fights just once a year. The

9:54 PM ET D’Arcy MaineESPN.com American Jessica Pegula advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open for the second consecutive year with a 7-6 (3), 6-2 victory over Nuria Parrizas Diaz on Thursday. The tournament’s No. 21 seed recorded seven aces and 20 winners in the 91-minute clash. She’ll next face the winner of

8:03 PM ET Associated Press LA QUINTA, Calif. — Patrick Cantlay shot a 10-under 62 in perfect weather and turf conditions Thursday at La Quinta Country Club for a share of the first-round lead with rookie Lee Hodges in The American Express. Cantlay played the first seven holes in 7 under, making an eagle on

8:00 AM ET Tim BontempsESPN MADISON SQUARE GARDEN had just played host to one of the season’s most thrilling comebacks. It was Jan. 6, and New York Knicks fans had witnessed a ridiculous buzzer-beating bank shot 3-pointer by RJ Barrett that capped a 24-point rally and win against the Boston Celtics. It was the Knicks’

7:12 PM ET Brady HendersonESPN Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford doesn’t expect his injured toe to be a factor in Sunday’s divisional-round game against the Buccaneers in Tampa, Florida. Stafford suffered the injury in the Rams’ regular-season finale against the San Francisco 49ers, a 27-24 overtime loss. “I’m feeling OK,” Stafford said Wednesday. “The

10:45 AM GMT Owen Farrell has retained his England captaincy for the 2022 Six Nations while George Ford, Elliot Day, Sam Underhill and Mako and Billy Vunipola miss out on the squad. Manu Tuilagi was also not named in the 36-man squad announced by coach Eddie Jones on Tuesday but he is expected to join

7:30 AM ET They’re still celebrating Georgia’s first national championship in 41 years in Dawg Land, but that doesn’t mean it’s too soon to start looking ahead to the 2022 college football season. We’ve already unveiled our 2022 Way-Too-Early top 25, and up next is our Way-Too-Early All-America team, which features some familiar names, as

7:00 AM ET Wayne Simmonds was drawn to hockey at a young age. He just wasn’t allowed to participate until one specific homework assignment was complete, on one specific figure. “I remember being 6 or 7 years old, and I told my parents, ‘I want to play hockey.’ And they said before I could, I

7:00 AM ET Six first basemen have attained nine-figure contracts in their 30s, and the results haven’t necessarily been great. The megadeals for Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols became problems almost immediately. So did the one for Ryan Howard. Deals for Jason Giambi and Carlos Lee started off well but fizzled in the back halves.

5:45 PM ET There were mixed fortunes for some of Europe’s biggest clubs over the weekend, with Real Madrid claiming silverware and Manchester United enduring more issues on and off the pitch. Meanwhile, there was controversy in the Copa del Rey and wins that moved Manchester City and Bayern Munich closer to title triumphs. Here

7:59 PM ET Former UFC champion Miesha Tate will continue her comeback inside the Octagon in May — in a new weight class. The UFC has booked a 125-pound flyweight matchup between Tate and Lauren Murphy at UFC Fight Night on May 14, officials confirmed to ESPN on Saturday. The promotion has not yet announced

8:10 AM ET The PGA Tour remains in Hawaii this week for the first full-field event on the tour schedule in 2022. The Sony Open, which Kevin Na won a year ago, will be played at Waialae Country Club. The event begins Thursday, Jan. 13. With PGA Tour Live in 2022, you can follow all

Apr 8, 2021 Mark KriegelESPN Editor’s note: This story was originally published ahead of Joe Smith’s win over Maxim Vlasov. Joe Smith. A search on Boxrec.com reveals seven and a half pages — almost 200 professional fighters — who go, or have gone, by “Joe Smith.” The name itself is a generic suggestion: just a

12:30 PM ET Novak Djokovic intends to pursue a 10th Australian Open title as the first tennis major of the year begins on Monday. But before the Serbian player can turn his attention to breaking a 20-Grand Slam singles titles tie with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the world’s top-ranked men’s player must first resolve

10:19 AM GMT Sale Sharks have confirmed they have suspended one of their players after they were arrested on suspicion of rape. The player has since been released on bail. The player, who has played for England, was arrested on Sunday morning. “Sale Sharks have been made aware of an allegation against one of its

5:01 AM ET Former Formula One champion Jacques Villeneuve will join Netherlands based outfit Team Hezeberg in a bid for a spot on the Daytona 500 starting grid, NASCAR said on Wednesday. The 50-year-old Canadian, winner of the 1995 Indianapolis 500 and the 1997 F1 drivers crown, took part in preseason testing at the famed

8:00 AM ET JIMMY BUTLER INTERRUPTED his pregame warmup and made a beeline toward half court. There, Utah Jazz swingman Joe Ingles stood, watched and waited as the All-Star closed in. Butler’s mission: Peace. At this point, the quick wits, sharp tongues and competitive fires of both Butler and Ingles had been clashing for years,

8:36 PM ET ESPN News Services LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears interviewed former Philadelphia Eagles coach Doug Pederson and Cleveland Browns executive Glenn Cook for their vacant coach and general manager jobs Wednesday. The positions opened Monday when the Bears fired former coach Matt Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace on the heels

7:00 AM ET ESPN staff The college football season finally concluded Monday night with the Georgia Bulldogs ending a 41-year national championship drought. Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs cleared the Alabama hurdle in the College Football Playoff title game, 33-18, and reclaimed their top spot in the final edition of this season’s power rankings. Georgia’s emphatic win

7:05 AM ET Editor’s note: With the No. 22 sweater rising to the rafters in Boston on Tuesday, Jan. 18, two Black NHL teammates reflect on Willie O’Ree’s lasting impact. In this game, there are a few honors that separate the memorable from the unforgettable. There’s the Stanley Cup; the ultimate recognition for a team.