Sports

Aaron McKenna: Irish boxer beats Etinosa Oliha to win IBF world middleweight title in the 3Arena in Dublin

Published

1 hour ago

August 9, 2026

Aaron McKenna produced a composed and dominant performance against previously unbeaten Etinosa Oliha to claim the IBF world middleweight title in his first professional fight on Irish soil at Dublin’s 3Arena.

The Monaghan fighter extended his perfect professional record to 21-0 after controlling much of the 12-round contest to claim a unanimous decision victory at Zuffa Boxing 10.

McKenna earned scores of 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112 on the judges’ scorecards to hand the now 22-1 Italian his first professional defeat.

Afterwards, McKenna reflected on fulfilling a childhood ambition after nine years as a professional without fighting in Ireland.

“A new world champion. I said it for years,” McKenna told Sky Sports.

“Since I was six years old, I thought about this moment my whole life, so for it to finally happen at 27, it goes to show everyone, don’t give up, always stay true to yourself, and you can do anything.”

McKenna admitted Oliha provided a sterner challenge than expected and welcomed all challengers.

“Oliha was definitely strong. I made it harder than it should have been, but I got the job done.

“It doesn’t matter [who’s next], anyone. I’m easy to find now that I have a belt. I want to collect every belt in boxing. I’m the best middleweight in the world, and super-middleweight; I don’t mind jumping up either.”

Oliha began positively and applied pressure during the cagey opening rounds, enjoying particular success in the second as McKenna looked to establish his jab from the back foot.

McKenna, known as ‘The Silencer’ gradually found his rhythm, repeatedly landing his jab and uppercut while using his range effectively to avoid Oliha’s heavier attacks.

The 27-year-old increasingly took control, forcing Oliha onto the ropes and landing combinations to the head and body.

Oliha continued to march forward, but McKenna’s movement and defence largely nullified the Italian’s pressure as he continued to land the cleaner shots.

A clash of heads left McKenna bleeding in the 11th, but he remained composed and landed several clean shots in response.

Oliha pushed forward in search of a dramatic finish in the final round, but McKenna continued to frustrate him with his jab before the final bell prompted celebrations from the Dublin crowd.

Sports

How to watch Guardians vs. White Sox: TV channel and streaming options for August 9

Published

3 minutes ago

August 9, 2026

qasimgillani

Aug. 9, 2026 6:19 am EDT Updated

The Chicago White Sox will look for continued power from a batter on a hot streak versus the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday at 2:10 p.m. ET, at Rate Field. Munetaka Murakami is currently on a two-game homer streak. Davis Martin (9-6, 4.13 ERA) gets the start for the White Sox, who are 60-56 this season and first in the AL Central. Joey Cantillo (8-7, 3.87 ERA) is starting for the Guardians, who are 58-60 and third in the AL Central.

How to watch Cleveland Guardians vs. Chicago White Sox

Guardians vs. White Sox odds

Favorite Moneyline: White Sox -110
Underdog Moneyline: Guardians -110
Total: 8.5
Total Over Odds: -105
Total Under Odds: -115

Injury reports

White Sox

Joey Bart: 10 Day IL (Hand), Kyle Teel: 10 Day IL (Ankle), Chris Murphy: 15 Day IL (Flexor), Tanner Murray: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Prelander Berroa: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Ky Bush: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Mike Vasil: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Jordan Leasure: 60 Day IL (Flexor), Brooks Baldwin: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Drew Thorpe: 60 Day IL (Elbow)

Guardians

Slade Cecconi: 15 Day IL (Arm), Shawn Armstrong: 60 Day IL (Leg)

Stats to know

Chicago’s Miguel Vargas has hit 24 home runs this season, which ranks 18th in MLB. He has also tallied 67 RBIs and has scored 77 runs. In 504 plate appearances, he has recorded a .234 BA, .340 OBP and .466 SLG with a 12.7% walk rate and an 18.3% strikeout rate. He has been effective on the base paths, recording 12 steals on 14 attempts.
In 475 plate appearances, Chase Meidroth is hitting .274/.350/.404 with a .754 OPS. He has hit 11 long balls, driven in 46 runs and scored 67 times.
Chase DeLauter is hitting for a .279 BA, .354 OBP and .436 SLG with a 14.4% strikeout rate and a 10.6% walk rate. His OPS is .790 and he has scored 45 runs. In 424 plate appearances, he has hit 12 home runs and driven in 56 runs. DeLauter has recorded seven steals on nine attempts.
In 370 plate appearances, Jose Ramirez has hit 10 long balls, tallied 35 RBIs and scored 52 runs. He is batting .233/.333/.385 and has posted a 12.4% strikeout rate and a 13% walk rate. Ramirez has recorded 28 steals on 30 attempts (6th in MLB).

This watch guide was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.

Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.

Photo: Jamie Squire, Ishika Samant, Scott Taetsch, Alika Jenner / Getty Images

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Aug 9, 2026

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Sports

How to watch Athletics vs. Red Sox: TV channel and streaming options for August 9

Published

10 minutes ago

August 9, 2026

qasimgillani

The Athletics take a nine-game losing streak into a home matchup versus the Boston Red Sox, at 1:35 p.m. ET on Sunday. Patrick Sandoval (1-0, 3.38 ERA) will start for the Red Sox, who are 64-52 this season and third in the AL East. J.T. Ginn (8-6, 3.51 ERA) is the expected starter for the Athletics, who are 46-71 and fourth in the AL West.

How to watch Athletics vs. Boston Red Sox

Athletics vs. Red Sox odds

Favorite Moneyline: Red Sox -250
Underdog Moneyline: Athletics +200
Total: 10
Total Over Odds: -110
Total Under Odds: -110

Injury reports

Red Sox

Curtis Mead: 10 Day IL (Hand), Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 10 Day IL (Forearm), Adley Rutschman: 10 Day IL (Wrist), Tanner Houck: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Zack Kelly: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Trevor Story: 60 Day IL (Abdomen), Garrett Crochet: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Roman Anthony: 60 Day IL (Wrist), Johan Oviedo: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Kutter Crawford: 60 Day IL (Wrist), Triston Casas: 60 Day IL (Knee), Wilyer Abreu: day-to-day (Undisclosed)

Athletics

Nick Kurtz: 10 Day IL (Thumb), Shea Langeliers: 10 Day IL (Knee), Zack Gelof: 10 Day IL (Knee), Josh Kuroda-Grauer: 10 Day IL (Testicle), Justin Sterner: 15 Day IL (Knee), Jeffrey Springs: 15 Day IL (Hip), Denzel Clarke: 60 Day IL (Foot), Brooks Kriske: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Mark Leiter Jr.: 60 Day IL (Hip), Brent Rooker: 60 Day IL (Knee), Luis Severino: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Gunnar Hoglund: 60 Day IL (Knee)

Stats to know

Boston’s Wilyer Abreu is slashing .256/.331/.462 this season with 20 home runs, 62 RBIs and an OPS of .793. He has a 20.7% strikeout rate and a 10% walk rate in 492 plate appearances, and he has scored 64 total runs. Abreu has recorded seven steals on 11 attempts.
In 466 plate appearances, Ceddanne Rafaela has hit 15 long balls, tallied 60 RBIs and scored 60 runs. He is batting .288/.328/.468 and has posted a 20.4% strikeout rate and a 4.1% walk rate. Rafaela has recorded 16 steals on 23 attempts.
Tyler Soderstrom has hit 19 home runs this season. He has also tallied 54 RBIs and has scored 55 runs. In 435 plate appearances, he has recorded a .245 BA, .340 OBP and .472 SLG with a 12% walk rate and a 19.3% strikeout rate.
In 320 plate appearances, Jacob Wilson has slashed .270/.301/.395 this season. He has hit seven long balls and driven in 36 runs with a strikeout rate of 11.6% and a walk rate of 3.8%. He has stolen four bases on four attempts and has scored 35 runs.

This watch guide was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.

Photo: Jamie Squire, Ishika Samant, Scott Taetsch, Alika Jenner / Getty Images

Sports

Chicago’s DiJonai Carrington ejected for hard foul on Sophie Cunningham

Published

17 minutes ago

August 9, 2026

qasimgillani

Chicago Sky guard DiJonai Carrington was ejected from her side’s WNBA defeat by Indiana Fever for committing a hard foul on Sophie Cunningham, and subsequently posted “white privilege” on social media.

Carrington caught Cunningham across the left side of the head with her arm as the Indiana Fever guard attempted a right-handed layup late in the opening quarter in Chicago.

Cunningham hit the ground hard but immediately got up to confront Carrington before team-mates separated them.

The foul was upgraded to a flagrant two foul after review and Carrington was automatically ejected from the match after scoring eight points in four minutes from the bench.

Shortly after leaving the game, Carrington wrote “WHITE PRIVILIGE” on social media platform Threads, tagging Indiana Fever in the post.

Asked about the post after her team won 90-86, Cunningham said: “I think the league is taking care of that.

“This has nothing to do with race. Last year, I did the same thing and I got kicked out, and I deserved to be kicked out. There’s no reason even to play that card.”

When told of the post, Sky coach Tyler Marsh added: “I have to get back to you on that because I’m just now hearing about that. So yeah, we’ll handle that.”

Speaking about the foul, Cunningham added: “Clearly, I think it was unnecessary.

“I’ve never really spoken to her and have no beef with her, but I guess she has some pent-up stuff. So, get your [stuff] off. That’s fine – I can take it.”

Fever coach Stephanie White said: “It was a hard foul. I don’t think that DiJonai intentionally came out to get her across the neck like she did, but it did happen, and I thought it was the right call.”

Referee Maj Forsberg said Cunningham was not penalised for her reaction because “we deemed her reaction to the severity of the contact to be acceptable”.

Cunningham has become the subject of controversy in recent weeks for her comments on transgender athletes participating in women’s sport.

It has led to people showing up inside and outside of Fever games, some to protest against Cunningham and others to express support.

Meanwhile, Fever star Caitlin Clark will avoid a one-match suspension after a technical foul called on her during the third quarter was rescinded after the match.

The technical foul – called when Clark ran into an official after making a pass having been bumped by a defender – would have been her eighth of the season, which triggers an automatic suspension.