Manny Pacquiao has likely fought his last fight, and while it wasn’t viewed in this way heading into Saturday in Las Vegas, the bout against Yordenis Ugas may have been the passing-of-the-torch moment the welterweight division has desperately needed. Pacquiao will almost certainly step away from the sport to focus on his political career in the Philippines, but boxing fans will always be focused on the “what if,” especially involving Floyd Mayweather. Did Pacquiao do enough in his career to eclipse Floyd’s legacy? As for Ugas, he’s now set up to be a superstar at welterweight. Is he No. 1 in the division?
After a legitimate fight last weekend, the boxing world now turns to a bout between a social media star and a former UFC champion. Jake Paul hopes to keep his knockout streak alive when he faces Tyron Woodley on Sunday night in Cleveland. Woodley had a dominant reign at welterweight in the UFC, but his struggles of late shut the door on his MMA future. Will he be able to stop Paul’s endeavors in combat sports?
After that bout and the return of Oscar De La Hoya on Sept. 11, fans can once again look forward to another undisputed title fight, this time between Canelo Alvarez and Caleb Plant. Many are discounting Plant’s viability in this Nov. 6 bout, despite his being a talented super middleweight champion. Will Alvarez really get a quick knockout?
Marc Raimondi, Mike Coppinger, Nick Parkinson and Mike Rothstein separate what’s real and what is not.
Real or Not: Manny Pacquiao’s career was better than Floyd Mayweather’s
Coppinger: Not real. Had Pacquiao fought Spence as planned and come out on top, I probably have vaulted him ahead of Mayweather. That victory would’ve been an incredible achievement at 42, and in this sport, longevity matters. Their career accomplishments are tough to separate — both had long runs at the top of the pound-for-pound list, often switching places after their fights.
So it comes down to their 2015 clash, which shattered revenue records. Mayweather won that fight going away, outboxing Pacquiao for long stretches. The only drama came in Round 4, when Pacquiao appeared to stun Mayweather. And now that Pacquiao is likely to retire after the loss to Ugas, it’s a wrap on the debate: Mayweather had the better career.
These are not just the two greatest fighters of their generation, but two of the top 10 or 15 boxers to ever lace up the gloves. There’s no shame in being second to Mayweather, even if there are many who believe Pacquiao would have come out on top if they had fought five years earlier. We’ll never know.
Real or Not: Yordenis Ugas has a legitimate chance to establish himself as the best welterweight in boxing
Coppinger: Don’t let Ugas’ 27-4 record fool you — he can really fight. There aren’t too many noticeable flaws in Ugas’ game. He’s fundamentally sound, sporting a high guard that picked off Pacquiao’s incoming shots round after round. He’s big for 147 pounds, long and rangy, but also strong on the inside. And his punches are clearly powerful enough, the counter right hand constantly dissuading Pacquiao from fighting recklessly.
Most of all, perhaps, Ugas owns an excellent jab and impeccable composure. He never veered away from his game plan in the biggest fight of his career. The jab was piston-like, and he often doubled up on it to set up the right hand to the body. Ugas was cagey, too, able to fend off Pacquiao’s slower attacks.
I thought Ugas beat Shawn Porter, though he didn’t receive the nod on the judges’ scorecards, and combining that performance with his showing against Pacquiao, it’s clear that Ugas is one of the five best welterweights in the world. He certainly has a real shot to ascend to No. 1.
However, at this juncture, Ugas should be recognized as the third-best 147-pounder in all of boxing behind Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford. The Cuban would be installed as an underdog against either man, but not likely a big one after Saturday night. Now Ugas just needs the fights to prove he’s the best.
Real or Not: Tyron Woodley will put an end to Jake Paul’s run in combat sports
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Jake Paul is aware that many want to see him fail but still has high confidence that he can beat Tyron Woodley in their upcoming fight.
Raimondi: I’m going to give a resounding “not real” to this statement. And it’s not necessarily because I think Jake Paul will beat Tyron Woodley on Sunday. It’s just that even if Woodley wins — even if it’s in spectacular fashion — there will still be a market for Paul fights. Paul’s popularity, which comes originally from YouTube and his massive fandom on social media, is not necessarily based on wins and losses. Paul and his team are telling a story about his career trajectory, and a loss here would only lead to a big comeback fight in the future.
Look back at that list of potential opponents Paul called out in a social media video. Not all of them were the Canelo Alvarezes and Gervonta Davises of the world. Also on the list was KSI — the fellow YouTuber who beat Paul’s brother Logan in boxing. That’s the kind of fight Paul could do next if he loses to Woodley. Tommy Fury could also be Paul’s next foe, win or lose in Cleveland. Fury, the half-brother of heavyweight great Tyson Fury, is on the undercard for that very reason. He’s the most likely choice to fight Paul next. I think that could make sense whether Paul beats or even loses to Woodley. Of course, we’ll have to see what Fury looks like against MMA fighter and Paul sparring partner Anthony Taylor. And there’s always the possibility of igniting the Dillon Danis rivalry if the other options don’t make sense. Danis is an MMA fighter famously known for being Conor McGregor’s good friend and training partner.
In addition to all of that, sources tell me that Paul has a multifight agreement with Showtime. This is not just a one-off bout against Woodley. He’ll come back and fight again on Showtime in the future. A loss here does not send Paul packing. I’d be inclined to guarantee that. Even if it’s an undercard bout next against someone who represents a step back in competition, Paul is not going anywhere.
Real or Not: Canelo Alvarez will KO Caleb Plant within five rounds
Parkinson: Not real. Alvarez has been increasingly destructive in his reign at super middleweight and has stopped better fighters than Plant in the last few years, but he is still likely to be extended into the second half of their fight after meeting some gritty resistance from the Nashville-born fighter and IBF titleholder.
Plant has some good wins on his record — Caleb Truax (2021) and Jose Uzcategui (2019) — but he has not competed at anything like the level that Alvarez has operated at for nearly a decade, and this has perhaps persuaded some to suggest this will be an early win for Alvarez.
Alvarez is in frightening form. If Alvarez can beat a tricky customer and rival world super middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders in eight rounds (May 2021), Callum Smith by a wide and unanimous decision (December 2020) and fearsome puncher Sergey Kovalev by 11th-round KO (November 2019), then form suggests Plant will be uprooted from the canvas at some point. Canelo also dispatched Avni Yildirim in three rounds in February for the third win inside the distance in his last four outings.
But Plant is better than Yildirim and is going to make Alvarez work for his belt, just as Saunders did before an uppercut forced him to retire after eight rounds with an eye injury.
Plant has decent power (12 KOs in 21 fights) to make Canelo wary in the opening rounds. He throws a good volume as well, which suggests he will stick around beyond five rounds. In his last fight early this year, Plant landed a total of 179 punches in his dominant, unanimous-decision win over Truax, according to CompuBox stats, including 124 power shots to Truax’s 29. Plant also scored two knockdowns in a clear unanimous decision over Uzcategui to win the IBF belt, landing 217 of 707 (31%) punches in the process (CompuBox) when the Las Vegas-based boxer showed he can sustain a fast pace at elite level.
Plant has good movement, and Truax was able to land just 10 punches in the first three rounds. More importantly, Plant uses his left jab to good effect. He will have to put it to good use again to stay in the fight against Canelo. Plant is more elusive than Saunders, and an elite super middleweight, so an early win for Canelo is not likely.
What is likely is that Canelo will become undisputed champion on Nov. 6, with a late stoppage or decision win seemingly a safer bet.
Real or Not: Amanda Serrano deserves to be pound-for-pound No. 1 female fighter
Rothstein: Not real. Make no mistake, Amanda Serrano is a great fighter and the best knockout-deliverer in women’s boxing. She is one of the best fighters in the world. She fights for titles consistently, and it’s not her fault some of her opponents, while titleholders, aren’t exactly the best competition.
She wins. She has power other fighters don’t have. Serrano can make the case — and already has made the case — that she’s the most exciting woman fighter in the sport. Considering she’s fighting on the undercard of Jake Paul’s pay-per-view, knocking out Yamileth Mercado would put more eyes on her. And it would put her in position to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world if it means an eventual fight against Katie Taylor.
But best pound-for-pound? Taylor and Claressa Shields are still going to be ahead of her, no matter what happens in Cleveland.
Jesse joined ESPN Chicago in September 2009 and covers MLB for ESPN.com.
The last-place Washington Nationals fired president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Martinez, the team announced Sunday.
Rizzo, 64, and Martinez, 60, won a World Series with the Nationals in 2019, but the team has floundered in recent years. This season, the Nationals are 37-53 and stuck at the bottom of the National League East after getting swept by the Boston Red Sox this weekend at home. Washington hasn’t finished higher than fourth in the division since winning the World Series.
“On behalf of our family and the Washington Nationals organization, I first and foremost want to thank Mike and Davey for their contributions to our franchise and our city,” principal owner Mark Lerner said in a statement. “Our family is eternally grateful for their years of dedication to the organization, including their roles in bringing a World Series trophy to Washington, D.C.
“While we are appreciative of their past successes, the on-field performance has not been where we or our fans expect it to be. This is a pivotal time for our club, and we believe a fresh approach and new energy is the best course of action for our team moving forward.”
Mike DeBartolo, the club’s senior vice president and assistant general manager, was named interim GM on Sunday night. DeBartolo will oversee all aspects of baseball operations, including the MLB draft. An announcement will be made on the interim manager Monday, a day before the club begins a series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Rizzo has been the top decision-maker in Washington since 2013, and Martinez has been on board since 2018. Under Rizzo’s leadership, the team made the postseason four times: in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2019. The latter season was Martinez’s lone playoff appearance.
“When our family assumed control of the team, nearly 20 years ago, Mike was the first hire we made,” Lerner said. “Over two decades, he was with us as we went from a fledging team in a new city to World Series champion. Mike helped make us who we are as an organization, and we’re so thankful to him for his hard work and dedication — not just on the field and in the front office, but in the community as well.”
The Nationals are in the midst of a rebuild that has moved slower than expected, though the team didn’t augment its young core much during the winter. Led by All-Stars James Wood and MacKenzie Gore, Washington has the second-youngest group of hitters in MLB and the sixth-youngest pitching staff.
The team lost 11 straight games in a forgettable stretch last month. And during a 2-10 run in June, Washington averaged just 2.5 runs. Since June 1, the Nationals have scored one run or been shut out seven times. In Sunday’s 6-4 loss to Boston, they left 15 runners on base.
There was industry speculation over the winter that the Nationals would spend money on free agents for the first time in several years, but that never materialized. Instead, the team made minor moves, signing free agents Josh Bell and Michael Soroka, trading for first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and re-signing closer Kyle Finnegan. Now, the hope is a new management team, both on and off the field, can help change the franchise’s fortunes.
The rosters for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game will feature 19 first-timers — and one legend — as the pitchers and reserves were announced Sunday for the July 15 contest at Truist Park in Atlanta.
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner who made his first All-Star team in 2011, was named to his 11th National League roster as a special commissioner’s selection.
Kershaw, who became only the fourth left-hander to amass 3,000 career strikeouts, is 4-0 with a 3.43 ERA in nine starts after beginning the season on the injured list. He joins Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera as a legend choice, after the pair of sluggers were selected in 2022.
Kershaw said he didn’t want to discuss the selection Sunday.
Overall, the 19 first-time All-Stars is a drop from the 32 first-time selections on the initial rosters in 2024.
Kershaw would be the sentimental choice to start for the National League, although Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes, who leads NL pitchers in ERA and WAR, might be in line to start his second straight contest. Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler, a three-time All-Star, is 9-3 with a 2.17 ERA after Sunday’s complete-game victory and also would be a strong candidate to start.
“I think it would be stupid to say no to that. It’s a pretty cool opportunity,” Skenes said about the possibility of being asked to start by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “I didn’t make plans over the All-Star break or anything. So, yeah, I’m super stoked.”
Kershaw has made one All-Star start in his career, in 2022 at Dodger Stadium.
Among standout players not selected were New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto, who signed a $765 million contract as a free agent in the offseason, and Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts, who had made eight consecutive All-Star rosters since 2016.
Soto got off to a slow start but was the National League Player of the Month in June and entered Sunday ranked sixth in the NL in WAR among position players while ranking second in OBP, eighth in OPS and third in runs scored.
Earning his fifth career selection but first since 2021 is Texas Rangers righty Jacob deGrom, who is finally healthy after making only nine starts in his first two seasons with the Rangers and is 9-2 with a 2.13 ERA. He has never started an All-Star Game, although Skubal or Brown would be the favorite to start for the AL.
“Red carpet, that’s my thing,” Chisholm said. “I do have a ‘fit in mind.”
Rosters are expanded from 26 to 32 for the All-Star Game. They include starters elected by fans, 17 players (five starting pitchers, three relievers and a backup for each position) chosen in a player vote and six players (four pitchers and two position players) selected by league officials. Every club must be represented.
Acuna, Wood and Raleigh are the three All-Stars who have so far committed to participating in the Home Run Derby.
ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.
NEW YORK — The New York Yankees were seemingly in deep trouble Sunday when Juan Soto cracked a pitch to left field in the seventh inning.
The New York Mets, down two runs, were cooking up a rally with no outs. Francisco Lindor stood at first base, Pete Alonso loomed on deck, and Brandon Nimmo was in the hole. This was the heart of the Mets’ potent lineup. Given the Yankees’ recent woes, fumbling their two-run lead and suffering a Subway Series sweep at the hands of their neighbors — and a seventh straight loss — seemed almost fated.
Then Cody Bellinger charged Soto’s sinking 105 mph line drive, made a shoestring catch and fired a strike to first base for an improbable double play to secure a skid-snapping 6-4 win — and perhaps rescue the Yankees from another dreadful outcome.
“Considering the context of this week and everything,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said, “that’s probably our play of the year so far.”
Soto’s line drive off Mark Leiter Jr. had a 10% catch probability, according to Statcast, but Bellinger, a plus defender at multiple positions who started at first base Saturday, was just able to snatch it before it touched the grass. Certain that he caught it clean, he made an 89.9 mph toss that reached first baseman Paul Goldschmidt on a line, over Lindor, who didn’t slide into the bag.
“I saw it in the air and had a really good beat on it,” said Bellinger, who went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk at the plate.
The Mets challenged the catch, but the call stood.
“That was incredible,” said Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge, who swatted his 33rd home run of the season in the fifth inning. “I’ve never seen something like that on the field.”
For the past week, a stretch Boone described as “terrible” for his ballclub, poor defense has been an issue for the Yankees. Physical errors. Mental lapses. Near disasters. The sloppiness helped sink a depleted pitching staff, more than offsetting the offense’s strong production.
That combination produced the team’s second six-game losing streak in three weeks and a three-game deficit in the American League East standings behind the first-place Toronto Blue Jays.
The surging Blue Jays won again Sunday to extend their winning streak to seven games and keep their division lead at three games, but Bellinger’s glove and arm ensured it didn’t grow to four.
“That was an unbelievable play,” Goldschmidt said. “Amazing catch and absolute cannon to me at first. To make that play was a game-changing play and potentially game-winning play for us today. And we needed it.”