Itauma vs Hrgovic: Croat says he will send British heavyweight “back to high school”

Published

3 hours ago

August 27, 2026

Filip Hrgovic told British heavyweight Moses Itauma he will “send him back to high school” when they fight for the vacant IBF heavyweight world title at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday.

Unbeaten Itauma, 21, is aiming to become the second-youngest heavyweight world champion in history – Mike Tyson remains the youngest.

Hrgovic, 34, has repeatedly called Itauma a “kid” in the build-up, prompting the Chatham heavyweight to admit the taunts were starting to wind him up.

But Itauma played down their impact at Thursday’s news conference. “At the end of the day, talk is cheap. It’s schoolboy banter,” he said.

An Olympic bronze medallist with an extensive amateur pedigree, Hrgovic’s only pro defeat came against Daniel Dubois in 2024.

He dismissed suggestions he was trying to play “mind games”.

“I just tell you what I think. I think he’s a kid, he’s not mature enough. I think I’m the man. I’m a much better age, much more experienced. That’s it,” he said.

England v Pakistan Second Test: Khurram Shahzad makes an incredible diving catch to remove Jordan Cox

Published

18 seconds ago

August 27, 2026

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England’s Jordan Cox sees his innings ended on 55 after an unbelievable, diving catch by substitute Salman Agha, with England 187-6 on the opening day of the second Test at Lord’s.

FOLLOW LIVE: England v Pakistan – Second Test, day one

Available to UK users only.

Colts take Alec Pierce off PUP list; WR to rejoin practice

Published

7 minutes ago

August 27, 2026

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INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts have taken wide receiver Alec Pierce off the physically unable to perform list, the team announced Thursday. Pierce is expected to take part in practice this afternoon, according to league sources who were not permitted to speak publicly. If Pierce practices Thursday, it will mark the first time he will have participated in an on-field team activity since undergoing left ankle and heel surgery in late March. While on the PUP list, Pierce has missed all of training camp amid his monthslong rehab.

Pierce initially tried to avoid surgery at the end of last season, opting for a platelet-rich plasma injection instead. However, when that injection didn’t alleviate the discomfort Pierce felt, which he said he’d been managing since the 2024 season, he eventually moved forward with a procedure. Pierce revealed in June that he faced a four- to six-month recovery timeline that could threaten his availability for the start of the season.

Another catch from #Colts WR Alec Pierce in his first practice since undergoing left ankle/heel surgery in March.

(This is a warmup before anyone starts any nonsense about him not running full speed.) pic.twitter.com/PVlRlJ19A6

— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) August 27, 2026

Now, less than a month away from Week 1, Pierce is on track to be on the field when the Colts host the Baltimore Ravens. The fifth-year pro signed a four-year, $114 million deal in March, the richest free-agent contract for a receiver in NFL history. Pierce, who is the 15th-highest-paid wideout annually, has led the NFL in yards per reception in each of the past two years (22.3 in 2024 and 21.3 in 2025).

Pierce is poised to take over as Indy’s No. 1 receiver after the team traded veteran Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers in March. Pittman led the Colts in catches in four of the past five years. In Pittman’s absence, the Colts’ starting receiver trio will consist of Pierce, Josh Downs and, most likely, Keenan Allen. Allen, a six-time Pro Bowler, reached a one-year agreement with the Colts last week.

The 34-year-old is one of 18 players in NFL history to reach 1,000 receptions; he’s also recorded at least 65 catches, 700 yards and four touchdowns in nine consecutive seasons.

Sports

Tight end Jonnu Smith agrees to deal with Green Bay Packers: Source

Published

13 minutes ago

August 27, 2026

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Jonnu Smith #81 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs the ball against Denzel Ward #21 of the Cleveland Browns.

Jonnu Smith was released by the Steelers after one season in Pittsburgh. Joe Sargent / Getty Images

Aug. 27, 2026 12:34 pm EDT Updated

Veteran tight end Jonnu Smith has agreed to a free-agent deal with the Green Bay Packers, a team source confirmed to The Athletic on Thurday. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because they didn’t have permission to comment publicly.

Smith has spent the past four seasons on four different teams, including the 2025 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Smith was a third-round draft pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2017 and spent his first four seasons there. He signed with the New England Patriots in 2021 and played two years under Bill Belichick before being traded to the Atlanta Falcons. After one year in Atlanta, Smith signed a two-year deal with the Miami Dolphins in 2024 but was traded to the Steelers last offseason.

Is Green Bay Packers offensive line ‘good enough’ going into 2026 NFL season?

Robert Mays and Derrik Klassen

The Packers are thin on proven options at tight end. Tucker Kraft appears to be fully healthy after rehabbing his torn ACL and is their No. 1. Their No. 2, Luke Musgrave, suffered a neck injury this offseason and hasn’t yet practiced in camp. They also have Josh Whyle, Drake Dabney and Messiah Swinson at the position, but Whyle might be the only one the Packers trust to play significant meaningful snaps in the regular season and even he doesn’t seem to be much of a threat.

Smith has experience with Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, who coached him as the Titans’ offensive coordinator in 2018.

Smith has been a supplemental part of the passing game for most of his nine-year NFL career. He had one outlier season in 2024, when he set career highs with the Dolphins, catching 88 passes for 884 yards and eight touchdowns. That marks the only time Smith has had more than 50 catches or at least 600 receiving yards in a season.

Smith’s 2025 season was expected to produce better results, as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator was Arthur Smith, who was Smith’s position coach with the Titans and the head coach in Atlanta during Smith’s year with the Falcons. However, the Steelers ended up having more of a tight end-by-committee season from the position, and Smith had just 38 catches for 222 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games.

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Aug 27, 2026