General Sports 24 Hours

Last updated: May 21, 2026, 5:51 PM ET

Boxing & MMA

Oleksandr Usyk's upcoming heavyweight defense has drawn attention after promoter Eddie Hearn described challenger Rico Verhoeven as "not a normal man" while warning he faces a "mountain to climb" against the champion. Usyk himself hinted at post-fight plans involving acting and a "secret plan" for the future, drawing on a 16-year-old loss that fueled his rise. Across the combat sports landscape, Belfast's Caoimhin Agyarko will challenge Josh Kelly for the IBF light-middleweight title this summer, while former Bellator boss Scott Coker announced plans to launch a new fight league next year aiming to build a "global brand in MMA."

Motorsport

Formula 1's veteran class showed no signs of slowing down as Lewis Hamilton declared he has no plans to retire, insisting he will "be here for quite some time." Teammate George Russell aimed to put a "turbulent" start behind him at the Canadian Grand Prix, seeking redemption after a difficult opening to the season. In the Giro d'Italia, Belgian Alec Segaert claimed his first-ever Grand Tour stage, handing a vital lead to teammate Afonso Eulalio in the overall classification. Meanwhile, NASCAR's Kyle Busch was hospitalized and ruled out of Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte after a severe illness, ending his participation in one of the sport's biggest races. Indianapolis will also host the Wienie 500 on Friday, billed as the "Greatest Viral Sensation in Racing" ahead of Sunday's Indy.

Tennis

The French Open field took shape as Jannik Sinner drew French wild card Clement Tabur in the first round of his career Grand Slam bid, while Britain's Toby Samuel qualified for his first Grand Slam main draw. Emma Raducanu faces Argentine clay specialist Solano Sierra, a tricky opening test on the surface where she has struggled. Despite player complaints about revenue sharing, tournament director Amelie Mauresmo confirmed the prize money pool will not change this year.

NBA Playoff Action

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder past the San Antonio Spurs and level their playoff series at 1-1. Nneka Ogwumike returns to Los Angeles to lead the Sparks toward the playoffs after helping deliver a new collective bargaining agreement. Florida center Rueben Chinyelu withdrew his NBA draft name and committed to a senior season with the Gators.

Rugby

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy told his squad to "fight with everything" ahead of Friday's Challenge Cup final against Montpellier. The province received a major boost as fit-again winger Robert Baloucoune was named to start, while centre James Hume said the players are "embracing" the chance at silverware. England's selection policy came under scrutiny as Stuart Broad expressed surprise at Ollie Robinson's recall for the first Test against New Zealand on June 4.

Cricket & Emerging Talent

Christiana Balogun made her England debut this spring, four years after a cancer diagnosis, describing the moment as deeply meaningful. The Afghanistan women's refugee team will tour England this summer in their continued bid for international recognition. In domestic cricket, the T20 Blast returns on Friday with wall-to-wall sunshine forecast across England.

College Sports

Kam Mercer, a top-10 high school sophomore, committed to Cincinnati and will reclassify into the 2027 class. The University of Georgia men's basketball program received a $10 million donation from the founder of a major daily fantasy sports company. Lane Kiffin's LSU staff welcomes Ed Orgeron back as a special assistant to recruiting and defense, while Joey Chestnut will defend his Nathan's hot dog title on July 4 while on probation. Georgia's baseball team relies on home-run power as it chases an SEC tournament title and a College World Series berth, with 100 days until the 2026 season kicks off.

Governance & Culture

British Gymnastics will replace its complaints process after criticism from abuse victims over how complaints were handled. The Ospreys have yet to sign Welsh rugby's latest Professional Rugby Agreement, according to chief executive Lance Bradley. McLaren's driver development program features three women named Ella competing on horses, a Welsh dragon, and a Rihanna-inspired nickname. An all-female track meet called Athlos will debut in London later this year as it expands to two events.