Sunday, 15 November 2026
AMIR KHAN DIDN'T HESITATE TO NAME THE MOST SKILLED FIGHTERS HE FACED: "TICKS ALL THE BOXES"
Amir Khan shared the ring with many elite level opponents during his career but made no mistake in naming the most skilled fighter of them all.
‘King Khan’ made his way into the paid ranks back in 2005, just months after his silver medal success at the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
The Bolton-native became a unified world light-welterweight champion during his career, a feat he achieved back in July 2011 when he defeated America’s Zab Judah to unify the WBA and IBF belts.
Khan did suffer his fair share of defeats along the way however, falling short to the likes of Canelo Alvarez, Danny Garcia and Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford prior to his retirement from boxing in 2022.
In a feature with The Ring Magazine, Khan reflected on his 2019 clash with ‘Bud’ Crawford as he claims the three-time undisputed world champion was the most skilled fighter he ever crossed paths with.
“He makes you miss by inches and counter you back, hit you with shots you don’t see and that makes you not want to throw punches. Automatically he’s using his offense as a defense. He was so precise. He has to tick all the boxes.”
Crawford stopped Khan in the 6th round of their showdown at New York City’s Madison Square Garden in April 2019 to make the second successful defence of his WBO world welterweight title.
‘Bud’ would go on to capture the undisputed welterweight championship with a victory over Errol Spence Jr in July 2023, a feat he also achieved at 168lbs when he got the better of Mexican icon Canelo one year ago.
- Kailem Lowe
SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER CALLS OUT REPORTER OVER AI BLUNDER
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| Credit: Oklahoma City Thunder |
Oklahoma City Thunder All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the reigning back-to-back NBA MVP.
Gilgeous-Alexander is also now the NBA’s preeminent Anti-AI King.
On Friday, the Thunder suffered a 113-112 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers despite Gilgeous-Alexander dropping 40 points. It was a night to forget for Oklahoma City, until the final question of Gilgeous-Alexander’s postgame press conference created a clip that will live forever.
“Shai, during the first half, it was the first time in your NBA career that you didn’t record a single assist,” an off-camera reporter said. “At what point during the game — I mean, you ended the game with 40 — do you feel like you have to turn that up a notch and start taking over the game offensively?”
“Wait, one more time? It was— wait, what?” Gilgeous-Alexander inquired, peering over his glasses quizzically.
The reporter repeated that Gilgeous-Alexander’s failure to record an assist in the first half against the Clippers marked the first such instance of his decorated career.
“That’s a false stat, by the way,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “In Game 4 against Indiana, I didn’t have an assist the whole game. But sorry. Go ahead.”
It’s true. In Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, Gilgeous-Alexander posted 35 points, three rebounds, three steals, and one block, but zero assists.
The reporter repeated his actual question, which Gilgeous-Alexander answered. “Gotcha,” the reporter said once Gilgeous-Alexander finished. “Don’t trust AI.”
Gilgeous-Alexander smiled and laughed, saying, “Yeah, don’t do it. Definitely don’t do it!”
Clemente Almanza, lead writer for OKC Thunder Wire, was at the presser and described the reporter only as “an LA reporter.” As of this writing, he has not been identified beyond that, which is probably for the best.
While the predominant lesson here is to never rely on AI for research — or any journalistic function — it also calls back to evergreen advice from the great Kevin Van Valkenburg, formerly of ESPN and now at Fried Egg Golf.
“A great journalism lesson: If you are trying to get good answers from someone in an interview, one of the worst ways to do it is long-ass questions designed to make you (the interviewer) feel or look smart,” Van Valkenburg wrote in May.
- Megan Armstrong
ALEX ZVEREV EARNS FIRST WIN AS WORLD NO 1 ATP FINALS OPENER
The German has twice won the season-ending ATP Finals
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| Alexander Zverev beat Rafael Jodar in his opening match (Getty) |
Alexander Zverev claimed his first win as world No 1 with a straight-sets victory over rising star Rafael Jodar at the ATP Finals.
Zverev rose to top spot at the start of November but began his reign by becoming the first player to lose his first match as ATP No 1 in straight sets, in a defeat to Lorenzo Musetti at the Paris Masters.
He produced a much better performance against Jodar in his opening match in Turin, however, seeing off the talented 20-year-old - who was making his debut at the tournament - 6-4 6-4.
He will play either Arthur Fils or Ben Shelton in his next round-robin match, with the pair playing each other later on Sunday.
Zverev has twice won the ATP Finals, in 2018 and 2021, and is among the favourites alongside the in-form Carlos Alcaraz, who opens his campaign on Monday.
The 29-year-old, who walked on court sporting a gold racquet bag and jacket emblazoned with a giant number 1, said: “I think it was a solid match. I don’t think it was perfect, but I think it’s a very good start to the tournament.”
The German’s serve has been a major contributing factor to the most successful year of his career to date and it only came under threat once against Jodar.
As he served for the opening set he was forced to save two break points, firing down four unreturnable serves to put him in control.
He landed 88 per cent of his first serves in the first set and did not produce a single double fault.
Jodar reached Turin after a truly astonishing first season on the ATP Tour, in which he set a record for the shortest time between making his Tour debut and breaking into the top 10 in the world: just 287 days.
- Flo Clifford
ISRAEL ADESANYA WANTS CIRYL GANE TO SETTLE 'UNFINISGED BUSINESS' NEXT FOLLOWINGJOSH HOKTIK WIN AT UFC 334
Israel Adesanya has an opponent in mind for Ciryl Gane‘s next fight following his win over Josh Hokit, and it’s pretty obvious.
Gane, in his first heavyweight title defense, took on the undefeated Hokit at UFC 334 in Madison Square Garden. Relentless pace from the 29-year-old made the Frenchman rather uncomfortable in the initial rounds as he struggled to dictate the pace of the fight.
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| Josh Hokit gave Ciryl Gane a tough time despite a close unanimous decision loss [Image via Getty] |
It was only during the championship rounds, when Hokit began gassing out, that Gane began to assert his authority. Having clearly won the 4th and 5th rounds, ‘Bon Gamin’ edged out the American on all three judges’ scorecards (48-47) to secure a unanimous decision win.
Following Gane’s win, UFC middleweight Israel Adesanya broke down who the heavyweight champ should fight next. Stating a pretty obvious name in Tom Aspinall, ‘Izzy’ claimed that the 36-year-old should settle his unfinished business with the Englishman before moving on with ‘this heavyweight sh*t.
Aspinall has to be the guy next. I didn’t even think about that. But Aspinall has to. I think Aspinall and Gane have unfinished business that has to be settled before we move on with this heavyweight sh*t. But again, amazing fight.
What Happened When Ciryl Gane And Tom Aspinall Fought In 2025?
When Ciryl Gane and Tom Aspinall first fought in 2025 at UFC 321 for the heavyweight title (with the latter being the champ), the fight ended in a no-contest even before the conclusion of the first round.
After a strong start, Gane found his flow state against Aspinall before an unfortunate double eye poke forced the latter to withdraw.
The eye poke was so severe that Aspinall has had four surgeries since then. In fact, he has not fully recovered from it, almost 13 months later.
- Gerard Crispin
MEN’S RUNNING WORLD RECORDS 🏃♂️⁰
Every official mark from 100m to 100K, who holds it, and when it was set:
100m — 9.58 · Usain Bolt (Aug 16, 2009)
200m — 19.19 · Usain Bolt (Aug 20, 2009)
400m — 43.03 · Wayde van Niekerk (Aug 14, 2016)
800m — 1:40.91 · David Rudisha (Aug 9, 2012)
1500m — 3:26.00 · Hicham El Guerrouj (Jul 14, 1998)
1 Mile — 3:42.66 · Josh Kerr (Jul 18, 2026)
5000m — 12:35.36 · Joshua Cheptegei (Aug 14, 2020)
10,000m — 26:11.00 · Joshua Cheptegei (Oct 7, 2020)
Half Marathon — 56:51 · Yomif Kejelcha (Aug 23, 2026).
Marathon — 1:59:30 · Sabastian Sawe (Apr 26, 2026)
50K — 2:38:43 · CJ Albertson (Oct 8, 2022)
100K — 6:05:35 · Aleksandr Sorokin (May 14, 2023)
Three of these fell in 2026 alone. Which one will go next? 🏁
Updated: November 2026
HOW MUCH MONEY DID MCILROY GET FOR RACE TO DUBAI WIN?
Rory McIlroy left Dubai with another piece of golf history and a multimillion-dollar payday. Although Tyrrell Hatton won the DP World Tour Championship on Sunday, November 15, McIlroy’s second-place finish delivered the season-long prize he had been chasing.
The Northern Irishman overtook Eugenio Chacarra to secure his eighth Race to Dubai title, matching Colin Montgomerie’s record for European season-long crowns. It also marked McIlroy’s fifth consecutive title, extending a remarkable run of success on the DP World Tour.
So, how much money did Rory McIlroy get for winning the Race to Dubai? His season-long championship earned him a $2 million bonus. Add the $1.26 million he collected for finishing alone in second at the tournament, and his combined payout totaled $3.26 million.
Those figures represent two separate rewards, an important distinction when calculating what McIlroy earned during the season finale.
Rory McIlroy Earned $2 Million Race to Dubai Bonus
The Race to Dubai rewards performance throughout the season, with the final standings determining how a separate bonus pool gets distributed.
According to Golf Digest’s payout breakdown, the season-long champion receives $2 million, while the runner-up earns $1 million. That meant McIlroy’s late push past Chacarra carried a seven-figure financial swing between first and second in the rankings.
The broader Race to Dubai bonus pool totaled $6 million, distributed among the top 10 finishers. Third place paid $750,000, followed by $550,000 for fourth and $450,000 for fifth. The player finishing 10th received $150,000.
McIlroy’s $2 million bonus therefore came from finishing atop the season standings. His performance at Jumeirah Golf Estates also generated a substantial tournament check.
The DP World Tour Championship featured a $10 million purse, with $3 million reserved for the tournament winner. McIlroy’s solo second-place finish paid $1.26 million, bringing his combined tournament earnings and season-ending bonus to $3.26 million.
Winning both competitions would have produced a $5 million payout. Instead, Hatton claimed the tournament’s biggest check while McIlroy secured the season’s biggest honor.
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| DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – NOVEMBER 13: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland acknowledges the crowd after playing his second shot on the third hole on day two of the DP World Tour Championship Dubai on the Earth Course at Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 13, 2026 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) |
2-Time Masters Champ Matched History With Dramatic Dubai Finish
McIlroy needed a strong Sunday to turn his historic opportunity into another Race to Dubai championship.
He delivered a bogey-free 67, recording five birdies to finish at 10 under par. That secured second place behind Hatton and left Chacarra needing a late response to reclaim control of the season-long race.
Chacarra still had an opportunity on the final hole. Needing an eagle, he found a greenside bunker with his approach and ultimately made par, allowing McIlroy to celebrate another championship.
The outcome gave McIlroy eight season-long European titles, drawing him level with Montgomerie. His closing round also ensured that a week without the tournament trophy still ended with a significant achievement.
For anyone calculating his Dubai payday, the distinction remains straightforward: $2 million for winning the Race to Dubai, plus $1.26 million for his tournament finish.
Together, those checks made McIlroy’s record-equalling Sunday worth $3.26 million before considering any other earnings from his season.
- Parker Abate
ARYNA SABALENKA ADDRESSES ACCUSATIONS SHE FIRED RUSSIAN INSULT AT UKRAIN'S ELINA SVITOLINA
Aryna Sabalenka was accused of hurling a Russian insult at Elina Svitolina during her loss in the WTA Finals whilst the war in Ukraine continues
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| Aryna Sabalenka has rejected claims she insulted her opponent in Russia |
Aryna Sabalenka has denied that she hurled an insult in Russian at Elina Svitolina, her Ukrainian opponent, during her loss in the WTA Finals.
The recently dethroned World No 1 was seen cursing during her loss to Svitolina, who secured a 6-3 3-6 6-1 success. Immediately her words were interpreted by some as a dig at her opponent, whose country remains at war with Russia.
Sabalenka has denied that and maintained that her anger was directed at a section of the crowd who were cheering against her, but concedes she could've handled the situation differently.
She said: “My comment was not directed at Elina. I was frustrated with a small group of spectators who were aggressively cheering my mistakes, and I reacted emotionally in the moment.
"That said, I should have handled my frustration differently, and I apologise to anyone offended. Elina played a great match, and I wish her all the best for the rest of the tournament.”
Since Russia's invasion into Ukrainian their players do not shake hands with Russian or Belarusian players, nor do they take pre-match photographs with each other. Svitolina has been one of the most outspoken Ukrainian athletes regarding the war and its impact.
Despite that she's still called for Sabalenka to be respected. She said: "As we see there's many, many Ukrainians, many, many flags and of course they want me to win this particular match. We've played many times with Aryna. She has her fans. I have my fans.
"I just hope the matches between us [are] respected. Sometimes in some matches that we've played also there have been not great comments towards me in regards of the war. It is like this in the social media, sometimes the things are turned around a little bit."
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| Aryna Sabalenka has rejected claims she insulted her opponent in Russia |
Svitolina recently announced her divorce from fellow tennis star Gael Monfils after five years. She cited however the Russia-Ukraine war and its emotional impact had caused her to lose herself in her marriage.
"When you've been living through the reality of war for more than 4.5 years, experiencing so many different situations, emotions, and difficult moments, you naturally start seeing life differently. Your perspective changes, your values and priorities shift, and you begin to understand what you truly want out of life," she said.
Svitolina will face Mirra Andreeva, this year's French Open champion, in the showpiece event of the WTA Finals after the Russian teenager hammered Linda Noskova 6-2 6-1 in the semi-finals.
- Samuel Meade
'WHAT IS SHE DOING?' - MIRRA ANDREEVA STUNNED BY JESSICA PEGULA'S GAME DESPITE WTA FINALS VICTORY
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| Mirra Andreeva has reflected on beating Jessica Pegula at the WTA Finals |
Mirra Andreeva admitted she is somewhat baffled by Jessica Pegula’s game style despite beating the American in straight sets at the WTA Finals.
Tennis fans were eagerly awaiting this semi-final clash at Indian Wells on Saturday after Pegula’s hot mic moment about Andreeva before the tournament stole the headlines.
This was the pair’s first meeting, and while Andreeva secured what looked like a comfortable 6-3, 6-4 win over Pegula, it was anything but.
The 19-year-old came from a break down in both sets as the Russian became the youngest player in 22 years to reach the WTA Finals showpiece, where she will face Elina Svitolina on Sunday.
Even though the French Open champion lost just seven games to the American, the teenager revealed she was still very flummoxed by the 32-year-old’s style of play.
She told Tennis Channel, “Honestly, it was such a weird feeling because I have no idea how she actually plays during the match. It’s a semi-final of such a big tournament, so I knew I had no room for mistakes, and I knew I had to figure out what she does on the court and how to make her feel uncomfortable.
“I knew that it was now or never. It’s kind of life or death at this point. It was very interesting, but I still don’t really understand what she does on the court because she’s actually one of the players, when I used to watch her play, I couldn’t read where her shots would go.
“She just has such a technique… I can usually look and see where the player would go crosscourt or down the line, and here I just look at her, and I am like, ‘What is she doing?’ I just couldn’t understand what she does on the court.
“It’s still complicated because I know if we played a second time, it is still going to be a very tough match, but I am happy this time it went my way.”
Pegula, who is known for her clean ball striking and ability to take the ball early, initially broke to go 2-1 up but was broken straight back by the world No 2.
The world No 5 was then up 3-1 in the second set but Andreeva went on to claim five of the next six games to close out the win in California.
Andreeva will face Svitolina in the final, a player she routed 6-4, 6-0 in their first match of the tournament. But the Ukrainian may be a tougher nut to crack this time after bulldozing Linda Noskova for the loss of just three games in her semi-final.
- Richie Mills
'OF COURSE IT IS ANNOYING! ' - ZINEDINE ZIDANE BLASTS MEDIA REPORTS OVER HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH KYLIAN MBAPPÉ
France head coach Zinedine Zidane has strongly denied any friction between himself and captain Kylian Mbappe. Speaking ahead of their crucial UEFA Nations League fixture against Turkey, Zidane branded media speculation regarding their relationship as entirely false and annoying.
Zidane hits back at Mbappe rift rumours
France head coach Zinedine Zidane has firmly put to bed any talk of a strained relationship with national team captain Kylian Mbappe. Speaking ahead of Sunday's crucial UEFA Nations League clash against Turkey in Bordeaux, Zidane addressed media speculation head-on.
With Les Bleus needing a victory to secure qualification on a high note, the manager stressed that unity within the camp remains absolute.
'The relationship is perfectly fine'
Press conference inquiries quickly turned to rumoured friction between the manager and his star striker ahead of the Stade Atlantique fixture. With an impassive expression, Zidane made it clear that stories of a fallout are completely wide of the mark.
"I don't quite understand what's being written," Zidane stated firmly. "I'm not going to get into the debate; the relationship is perfect. For the player as well as for me. I can't stop what's being said."
When pressed on whether the ongoing reports had frustrated him, the former midfielder admitted that the speculation is wearing thin. "Yes, the things that come back to me, of course, are quite annoying," he added.
Tactical plans and squad updates for Turkey
On the pitch, Zidane confirmed that Mbappe will start in his preferred position, leading a 4-3-3 attacking trident as France look to bounce back from a 3-1 defeat against Italy. "Of course it changes everything, we'd rather have him with us than not have him," Zidane noted regarding his talisman.
Elsewhere in camp, young forward Désiré Doué trained despite struggling with an unstable tooth following an elbow from Davide Frattesi. Meanwhile, players like Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola are tipped to support Mbappe in attack, with defensive changes expected as Les Bleus chase victory.
All eyes on Bordeaux showdown with Turkey
Sunday evening's encounter at the Stade Atlantique carries massive significance as Les Bleus aim to bounce back and seal their qualification status in style. Zidane's men know that a strong performance against the Turks will banish memories of their San Siro setback.
With the squad fully focused and their captain primed to lead the line, France are ready to deliver a statement display in their final group outing.
- Alvino Hanafi
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