British boxer Callum Smith is set to challenge Russian champion Dmitry Bivol for the unified light‑heavyweight titles on 12 December in Yekaterinburg. The bout will see Bivol defend his WBA, IBF and Ring belts, while Smith seeks to become a two‑division champion after his interim title win in 2025.
Great Britain’s top track cyclists, including Olympic champions Emma Finucane and Sophie Capewell, will race at the 2026 Track World Championships in Shanghai from 14‑18 October. The squad features eight world‑title holders and eight Olympic medallists, while the team notes the recent retirements of Katie Archibald and Katy Marchant. The event will be broadcast live on BBC platforms.
England have added former South Africa head coach Eric Simons to Stephen Fleming’s backroom team as the new Test bowling coach. The move comes as Fleming assembles his staff for his first series in charge against South Africa, while other consultants such as Kevin Pietersen and Marcus Trescothick continue in supporting roles.
Scotland’s Grant Forrest held off a late charge from home favourite Eugenio Chacarra to claim the Spanish Open title. The victory, his third DP World Tour win and first abroad, earned him spots at next year’s Open Championship and the Masters.
Two‑time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge claimed victory at the Melbourne Marathon, setting a new course record of 2:09:10 at age 41. The race finished inside the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground and featured a mixed field of elite runners, with Kipchoge emphasizing that his body is still peaking and he can compete with the younger generation.
American middleweight Brendan Allen secured a rear‑naked choke submission over Britain’s Christian Leroy Duncan in the fifth round of a UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas, halting Duncan’s push for a title shot. The win moves Allen into contention for Sean Strickland’s belt, while Duncan suffers his third loss in 18 fights. The event also saw fellow Brit Jai Herbert win his co‑main bout.
Former UFC fighter Michael “Venom” Page has joined KSI’s Misfits Boxing on a multi‑fight, multi‑year deal. The 39‑year‑old Londoner, who recently left the UFC after a win over Nursulton Ruziboev, will now compete under the Misfits promotion. KSI announced the signing at an event, highlighting Page as a major new addition to the roster.
Edinburgh Rugby recorded their third consecutive win, beating Zebre 29‑12 and earning a bonus point to sit atop the newly formed United Rugby Championship. Despite an early try from Zebre and a sin‑bin for Malelili Satala, Edinburgh dominated possession and territory, scoring four tries through Matt Currie, Freddy Douglas, Magnus Bradbury and Tom Currie.
Darkness Falls, trained by Aidan O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore, edged out the unbeaten favourite Desert Castle, ridden by William Buick, to win the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. The victory came after the colt was dropped back to seven furlongs from a mile-and-one, showcasing his class and speed.
Riders at the Giro di Lombardia in Bergamo halted the start of the race for five minutes to protest safety concerns, citing recent vehicle collisions and the fatal crash of Fin Tarling. Belgian champion Remco Evenepoel addressed the crowd, urging the UCI and race organisers to take responsibility for rider safety.