REY MYSTERIO SNR DEAD, WRESTLING PROMOTION ANNOUNCES, JUST WEEKS AFTER A FAMILY TRAGEDY - AS FANS PAY TRIBUTE TO MEXICAN LEGEND

• Mexican wrestling company Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide revealed the news
• Mysterio's nephew, Rey Mysterio Jnr, is still currently still wrestling with WWE

Rey Mysterio Snr has passed away, his family have said.

The wrestling legend, real name Miguel Angel Lopez Dias, was the uncle of current WWE star Rey.

Mexican wrestling company Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide revealed the news on social media. They posted: 'We regret the sensitive death of Miguel Angel Lopez Dias, known as Rey Mysterio Sr.

We send our most sincere condolences to his loved ones and raise our prayers to heaven for his eternal rest.'

Mysterio, who was 66, began wrestling in 1976 and officially retired in 2009. His son, Rey, and grandson, Dominik, are still with WWE and Rey was introduced into the Hall of Fame in 2023. 

The tragedy comes just a week after Mysterio Jnr's father, Roberto Gutierrez, died at the age of 76.

Mysterio first began training as a boxer, but found out about wrestling through his trainers.

He debuted in January 1976, and, throughout his career, wrestled for the likes of Pro Wrestling Revolution, Tijuana Wrestling and World Wrestling Association.

To distinguish the star from his nephew, he was often referred to as Rey Mysterio Snr, with Dominik his grand nephew. His grand niece, Aalyah, has also appeared in WWE on a number of occasions.

Upon the passing of his father, Rey Jnr wrote on Instagram: 'You did more than set the example of how to love & maintain a strong marriage and father 4 boys, you were the example and passed every single time until your death with flying colors. Excellent husband, loving father, beautiful grandfather, incredible son & brother, and amazing father in law.

'You checked every list on the box and can honestly say my majority [traits] I picked up from you. You fought until the very last minute and know that you biggest fear was leaving Moms behind, but I can assure you that she will not be alone and we will always look out for her.'

'You are with God now and smiling from the heavens while we continue with the real struggle of life until we see again. You will never be forgotten and will always be loved, RIP Pops.'

'Prayers for the Mysterio family,' one fan posted on social media.

Another wrote: 'Man, Rey is having a heartbreaking past few weeks. First he lost his father and now his uncle. Stay strong Mysterio family.'

Dominik, meanwhile, shared a video honouring his uncle to his Instagram account, captioned: 'Q.E.P.D. Tio,' accompanied by a crown emoji. He also shared images of his uncle with a black love heart.

- LEWIS BROWNING

OFFICIAL: PEREZ ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE FROM RED BULL RACING FOR 2025

An agreement has been reached

After four successful seasons together, and following the conclusion of the longest Formula One season in history, Sergio Pérez and Oracle Red Bull Racing have reached an agreement to part ways for 2025.

Checo joined Oracle Red Bull Racing for the 2021 season and across four seasons and 90 race starts with the Team, the Mexican racer enjoyed the most successful spell of his 13 years in Formula One. As well as scoring five wins, including victory at the Monaco Grand Prix and a pair of Azerbaijan Grand Prix wins that earned him a reputation as ‘F1’s King of the Streets’, Checo helped the Team to two Constructors’ Championship titles, in 2022 and 2023. As a title runner-up in his own regard last year, he also sealed the Team’s first one-two finish in the Drivers’ standings.

Checo, said: “I’m incredibly grateful for the past four years with Oracle Red Bull Racing and for the opportunity to race with such an amazing Team. Driving for Red Bull has been an unforgettable experience and I’ll always cherish the successes we achieved together. We broke records, reached remarkable milestones, and I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many incredible people along the way. A big thank you to every person in the Team from the management, engineers and mechanics, catering, hospitality, kitchen, marketing and communications, as well as everyone at Milton Keynes, I wish you all the best for the future. It has also been an honour to race alongside Max as a teammate all these years and to share in our success. A special thank you to the fans around the world, and especially to the Mexican fans for your unwavering support every day. We’ll meet again soon. And remember…Never give up.”

Christian Horner, Team Principal and CEO of Oracle Red Bull Racing, said: “I would like to thank Checo for all he has done for Oracle Red Bull Racing over the past four seasons. From the moment he joined in 2021 he proved himself to be an extraordinary Team player, helping us to two Constructors’ titles and to our first 1-2 finish in the Drivers’ championship. His five wins, all on street circuits, were also a spectacular mark of his determination to always push to the limit. While Checo will not race for the Team next season, he will always be an extremely popular Team member and a treasured part of our history. Thank you, Checo.”

Further announcements regarding the Team’s full 2025 line-up will be made in due course.

- NextGen Auto

LOS ANGELES DODGERS BASEBALL ⚾ ICON FERNANDO VALENZUELA DEAD AT 63

Los Angeles Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela died on Tuesday aged 63. (MARIO TAMA)

Former Los Angeles Dodgers star Fernando Valenzuela, one of the sport's most loved figures, died on Tuesday at the age of 63, the Major League Baseball club said in a statement.

The Mexican pitcher played 17 seasons in MLB for six clubs but was best remembered for his time with the Dodgers, particularly for his role in the 1981 team who beat the New York Yankees in the World Series.

His performances in that season and the excitement it caused became known as 'Fernandomania' and attracted a large Mexican fan-base to the Los Angeles team.

"On behalf of the Dodger organization, we profoundly mourn the passing of Fernando," Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten said.

"He is one of the most influential Dodgers ever and belongs on the Mount Rushmore of franchise heroes," he added.

Remembered for his 'wind-up' pitching style, he had been part of the team's Spanish language commentary team until recently and his passing led to a tribute from MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.

"Fernando Valenzuela was one of the most impactful players of his generation. His 1981 season ranks among the most decorated pitching years of all-time as Fernando was the National League Rookie of the Year, the NL Cy Young Award winner, a Silver Slugger and a World Series champion," Manfred said in a statement.

No cause of death was given, but the Dodgers announced earlier this month that Valenzuela would not commentate the rest of the season due to an unspecified health problem.

Born in Etchohuaquila, Sonora, Mexico as the youngest of 12 children, Valenzuela made his Major League debut at age 19 with the Dodgers in September 1980, throwing 17.2 innings without allowing an earned run for the remainder of the season.

In 1981, beginning with a 2-0 opening day shutout of the Houston Astros in an emergency start, he went on an unprecedented career-opening run, with complete games in his first eight career starts and a 0.50 ERA launching the wave of popularity that surrounded him.

His death comes ahead of Friday's opening game of the first World Series between the Dodgers and the Yankees since the 1981 triumph.

"We will honor Fernando’s memory during the 2024 World Series at Dodger Stadium. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Fernando’s family, the Dodgers, his friends across the game, and all the loyal baseball fans of Mexico," said Manfred.

- AFP

TEOFIMO LOPEZ HAS NO DOUBT WHO WINS CANELO-CRAWFORD FIGHT: "IT'S A MONEY GRAB"

Image credit: PBC/Showtime

 Super-lightweight WBO champion Teofimo Lopez has made his prediction ahead of a potential fight between Saul ‘Canelo‘ Alvarez and Terence Crawford.

Crawford has been chasing a fight against the current super-middleweight champion ever since he put in a career defining performance against Errol Spence Jr last year.

Although the Mexican was originally dismissive of the match-up, he has recently admitted he would be open to the fight if the money was right. With Saudi Arabia’s boxing matchmaker Turki Alalshikh having it on his wish list, Canelo might just get what he wants.

Speaking to FightHype about the clash, Lopez believes the three weight class disparity will prove too much come fight night.

“Crawford-Canelo, great matchup, great fight, what else can I say? If those guys want to make that fight happen, you’ve got the face of boxing against a guy who’s fighting for legacy. Both of them are really true champions, hall of famers – let the best man win.

I think Canelo is just too big for him. He’s too big, realistically. Too big, too strong and used to that weight class, so you can be a boxer and all those things but it is what it is.

Canelo is still the face of boxing and the guy everyone wants to fight, Crawfod wouldn’t want the fight if Canelo wasn’t the face of boxing. It’s a money grab, it’s a money fight.”

Lopez has a ready made replacement for Crawford if the Canelo fight doesn’t materialise – himself. The former undisputed lightweight champion has called out ‘Bud’ for a fight next year.

- Toby Morgan 

TAMAULIPAS BELT | #CANELOMUNGUIA

Road to #CaneloMunguia

5 de Mayo Commemorative Belts

TAMAULIPAS BELT

These special belts created as a special trophy, which is bestowed upon the winner of great fights held around this holiday regardless of the nationality of the contenders.

These Special Belts concept was born in 2017, and since then, every year a Mexican culture is selected to create these belts and present a tribute from the WBC to the world boxing and Mexican costumes.

In the case of boxing, something magical happens, as our sport has two dates on which we can see boxing at its maximum level: May 5 and September 16 (Commemorative dates for Mexicans).

We proudly present you all of our 5 de Mayo commemorative belts so far:

Huichol I

Chiapaneco I

Maya I

Mazahua

Mestizo

Puebla 

Tamaulipas