Warbas News

Photo: Instagram/Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez became the youngest world champion in boxing with a stunning knockout of Juan Estrada on Saturday night.  The 24-year-old, who had previously held titles at flyweight and super-flyweight, returned to the 115-pound division to secure his biggest win yet. The fight started fast, with Rodriguez quickly catching the veteran champion's attention. Estrada responded well in the second round, matching Rodriguez's pace.  Photo: Instagram/Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez However, in the third round, Rodriguez landed a strong blow that hurt Estrada. Despite recovering, Estrada struggled to keep up with Rodriguez's relentless attacks. In the fourth round, Rodriguez knocked Estrada down with a powerful uppercut followed by a left hand. Estrada got back up, but Rodriguez continued to dominate. In the seventh round, Rodriguez delivered a perfectly placed body shot that sent Estrada crashing to the canvas, unable to beat the count. BAM FOLD

Photo: Instagram/Klay Thompson Golden State Warriors' star Klay Thompson might be joining the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James has expressed his desire to play with Thompson and is even willing to take a pay cut if the Lakers can sign him. Thompson is interested in the idea. With no new deal in sight with the Warriors, the five-time All-Star is set to enter free agency on Sunday night. According to Lakers insider Brad Turner from the LA Times, Thompson is open to playing with the Lakers and LeBron. He plans to discuss this with the Lakers and also the Dallas Mavericks. Photo: Instagram/Klay Thompson Thompson, who was born and raised in LA, would be returning home if he joins the Lakers. His father, Mychal Thompson, played for the Lakers, and would likely love to see his son in the team's colors. However, the race isn't over. Thompson is also considering the Dallas Mavericks, and the Warriors haven't given up yet. The next few days will be crucial in determining where

Photo: Instagram/Shaquille O'Neal Shaquille O'Neal doesn't agree with Shannon Sharpe ranking Wilt Chamberlain as the third-best center of all time. On a recent episode of his podcast, Shaq responded to Sharpe's list, which placed Shaq as the third-greatest center. Shaq usually dismisses Sharpe's basketball opinions because Sharpe is a former football player, not a basketball expert. However, Shaq took this ranking seriously and made his case for being ranked ahead of Wilt Chamberlain. Shaq pointed out that while Wilt averaged 50 points per game in a season, he only won two championships. "The ultimate stat you're supposed to look at is championships," Shaq said. He also mentioned how injuries prevented him from surpassing Wilt in total points scored. Photo: Instagram/Shaquille O'Neal Shaq was also surprised that Bill Russell was ranked two places below Wilt despite beating him in two NBA Finals and eliminating him five times in the conference fin

Photo: Instagram/LeBron James NBA free agency kicks off this Sunday, and the Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be in the spotlight once again. Despite several role players opting into their contracts, the Lakers currently have no cap space or open roster spots. However, LeBron James might help change that. Reports say he's willing to take a pay cut if it means the Lakers can sign a top-tier player. By doing so, the Lakers could use the non-taxpayer mid-level exception of about $12.9 million per year. James is selective about who he'd make this financial sacrifice for. According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, he would consider taking less money for veteran stars like James Harden , Klay Thompson , or big man Jonas Valanciunas. Photo: Instagram/LeBron James The Clippers are likely to re-sign Harden, especially with Paul George possibly leaving, making his move to the Lakers unlikely. Valanciunas could fill the center position for the Lakers, but he might not be the high-impact

Photo: Instagram/Phil Handy Phil Handy , a veteran assistant coach, is unlikely to return to the Los Angeles Lakers, according to Anthony Irwin of Lakers Daily. This comes after Handy was overlooked for the head coach position in the last two hiring cycles. Despite rumors that the Lakers might rehire him, sources say Handy was unhappy about not being considered for the head coach job. The Lakers recently appointed J.J. Redick as their new head coach. Irwin mentioned that the Lakers are considering other candidates like Jacque Vaughn and Dwane Casey to join Redick’s staff. They are also keeping Scott Brooks in mind to provide experience to the new coaching team. Photo: Instagram/Phil Handy Handy, along with head coach Darvin Ham , was let go after the Lakers’ 2024 playoff run. Handy had been with the Lakers for five seasons, starting in 2019-20. During his time, the team won the 2020 NBA title but couldn't maintain that success in the following seasons. Before his time with the Lak

Photo: Instagram/Caitlin Clark At a recent press conference, Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark made a point to include her teammate Aliyah Boston in the conversation. Despite reporters asking six questions directed only at Clark, no one seemed to notice Boston sitting next to her with a microphone. When the seventh question started with "Caitlin, you—," Clark interrupted the reporter and gestured towards Boston, saying, "Ask Aliyah a question." Boston initially declined, saying, “No, I’m good,” but Clark insisted. Eventually, reporters asked Boston the final three questions of the session, and she answered thoughtfully. Clark finished the game with 15 points, seven assists, and six rebounds, while Boston contributed 11 points and 14 rebounds. The Fever lost 89-77 to Seattle, making their record 7-12. Photo: Instagram/Caitlin Clark Clark’s gesture may have been in response to Boston's support during a previous press conference. After a mistake, Boston reassured

Photo: Instagram/Conor McGregor Conor McGregor is having a hard time dealing with not fighting at UFC 303. McGregor was set to make a comeback against Michael Chandler at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but he had to pull out due to a broken pinky toe. He hasn't fought since his leg injury in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. The UFC quickly found a new main event : a light heavyweight title fight rematch between champion Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka. They also added a co-main event with featherweights Diego Lopes and Brian Ortega. Photo: Instagram/Conor McGregor As International Fight Week continues, McGregor feels left out. He tweeted about his deep mental pain and thanked his fans for their support. Despite wanting to return in the fall, UFC CEO Dana White recently dismissed the possibility of McGregor's comeback in August, September, or October. Read Next: Paige VanZant Wins Power Slap Debut With Two Knockdowns Source: Yahoo Sports  

Photo: Instagram/Paige VanZant Paige VanZant celebrated her first combat sports victory since 2019 on Friday. The former UFC and BKFC fighter knocked down Christine Wolmarans twice to win her slap fighting debut at Power Slap 8 by unanimous decision. VanZant, 30, delivered her knockdowns in the second and third rounds of the three-round match. Despite a flinching foul that gave Wolmarans a fourth slap attempt, VanZant dominated the match. All three judges scored it 30-25 in her favor. “Honestly, it was absolutely incredible,” VanZant said. “Of course I wanted to knock her out with the first slap, but I’m so happy that it went the way that it did. I knew I could take a punch, I knew I could take a slap. That was really fun.” Photo: Instagram/Paige VanZant Before this win, VanZant had struggled since her 2019 UFC victory over Rachael Ostovich. She lost her final UFC bout to Amanda Ribas and then dropped two bare-knuckle boxing matches against Britain Hart and Ostovich. Recently, she fou

Photo: Instagram/Bronny James Bronny James will join his father, LeBron James , on the Los Angeles Lakers next season, marking the first active father-son duo in NBA history. This historic moment was made possible by a series of collective efforts from Bronny, LeBron, the Lakers, and the other 29 NBA teams. The other teams in the NBA passed on selecting Bronny in the 2024 NBA Draft, allowing the Lakers to pick him at No. 55. LeBron’s incredible 21-year career and Bronny’s impressive high school performance also made this possible. Bronny, who played at Sierra Canyon in Los Angeles and then at USC , had a challenging year due to a congenital heart defect but still showed enough potential to be drafted. Although his college stats were modest, he impressed scouts with his skills and basketball IQ. Photo: Instagram/Bronny James Bronny may start the season in the NBA G League, but he is expected to join his father on the court at some point. Lakers GM Rob Pelinka praised Bronny’s characte

Photo: Instagram/Terence Crawford Terence Crawford , a top name in boxing, isn't ready to stop. He's aiming for more big fights to add to his legacy. Last year, Crawford made history by defeating Errol Spence Jr. in a much-anticipated fight. Many thought the match would be even, but Crawford dominated and won in the ninth round. This victory made him the first undisputed champion in two weight divisions during the four-belt era. Now, Crawford has his eyes on Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez , the super-middleweight champion. To fight Canelo, Crawford would need to move up three weight classes, but he’s confident he can handle it. Photo: Instagram/Terence Crawford On the Earn Your Leisure podcast, Crawford said the only person who can beat him is himself. "My mindset is always, win at all costs.  Make sure I'm in top shape and prepared for whatever the opponent brings. I believe that I'm Terence Crawford and nobody can beat me unless I beat myself." Crawford'

Photo: Instagram/Paul George This summer, Paul George is the hottest free agent on the market, assuming LeBron James stays with the Lakers. George, currently with the Clippers, can sign with any team that can afford him, either through cap space or a sign-and-trade deal. One team particularly interested in him is the Philadelphia 76ers, who have made him their top target and have the salary cap space to offer a max deal. The Clippers have offered George a three-year, $152.3 million extension, the same deal they gave to Kawhi Leonard . However, they could offer him up to $221 million over four years if they chose to. If the Clippers don’t meet that amount and the 76ers do, George might consider leaving Los Angeles to join Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey in Philadelphia. On his podcast, George stated, "At this point, I'm not even necessarily chasing a championship, it's playing the right style of basketball is what I'm chasing." He didn't elaborate further, lea

Photo: Instagram/Bryce James Bryce James , the youngest son of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James , has been named to the USA Men's Basketball Under 17 Junior National Team.  Bryce, a 6-foot-4 rising senior shooting guard at Sierra Canyon School, is making waves in the basketball world. Currently rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports, Bryce is ranked as the 40th best shooting guard in his class and the 21st best player in California.  Photo: Instagram/Bryce James He has already received college offers from Duquesne, where one of LeBron's high school teammates is now the head coach, and Ohio State, LeBron's favorite college team. USC has also shown interest in him. Bryce's older brother, Bronny , recently had a tough freshman season at USC . Despite his struggles, Bronny has declared for the NBA draft and is drawing attention due to the possibility of playing alongside his father, LeBron . Bronny's average stats were modest, with 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, an

Photo: Instagram/Francis Ngannou UFC president Dana White continues to claim that Francis Ngannou left the UFC to avoid fighting Jon Jones . It's been nearly a year and a half since Ngannou, then the heavyweight champion, parted ways with the UFC . Despite Ngannou's repeated statements that he left to gain more control over his career, White stands firm on his belief. In a conversation with Shannon Sharpe on the "Club Shay Shay" podcast, White pointed to Jon Jones' easy win over Ciryl Gane for the heavyweight title as evidence that Ngannou didn't want to face Jones. White said, "In my opinion, he does the same thing to Francis. 100 percent. He does the same thing to Francis. Francis didn't want to fight Jon Jones. Jon Jones is the scariest, most bad-ass fighter of all time." White praised Jones' fighting skills and suggested that his legacy won't be fully appreciated until he's retired. "When you talk about who the baddest ma

Photo: Instagram/Manny Pacquiao   Fans were surprised when Terence Crawford , fresh off his win to become the undisputed welterweight champion, called out Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez , who fights at super-middleweight.  Crawford’s victory over Errol Spence , earning him all four belts, was impressive. Yet, a jump of three weight classes to fight Canelo seemed like a huge stretch. Manny Pacquiao , a former welterweight champion, weighed in on the topic. While he didn’t predict a winner, he warned Crawford about the challenge of moving up in weight during an interview with Fight Hub TV. “Man, it’s not easy. It’s not easy moving up to bigger weight divisions,” said Pacquiao. Photo: Instagram/Manny Pacquiao Pacquiao is an authority on the subject, being the only boxer to have won titles in eight different weight classes, from 112 to 154 pounds. His achievements make him one of the greatest in boxing history, and Crawford aims to build a legacy of his own. Crawford’s first step towards a fight wi

Photo: Instagram/Monty Williams The Detroit Pistons have fired head coach Monty Williams after just one season. The team finished with a dismal 14-68 record, the worst in their history, and endured a historic 28-game losing streak. This season saw questionable rotation decisions and minimal player development. Just a year ago, Pistons owner Tom Gores gave Williams the richest coaching contract in NBA history, worth $67.5 million over six years. Despite this hefty contract, Gores made the call to let Williams go on Tuesday night. The decision was first reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and later confirmed by the Pistons. Gores expressed his gratitude for Williams' efforts but emphasized the need for a new direction. "Decisions like these are difficult to make, and I want to thank Monty for his hard work and dedication," Gores said. "Coaching has many dynamic challenges that emerge during a season and Monty always handled those with grace. However, after revie

Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani Shohei Ohtani shined bright in the Los Angeles Dodgers' win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. He hit two home runs, one of which was a massive 451-foot shot to left-center field. Ohtani's first homer came in the third inning, putting the Dodgers ahead 1-0. The ball flew with a launch angle of 27 degrees and an exit speed of 114.3 miles per hour. This 451-foot blast was Ohtani's second homer of 450 feet or more at Dodger Stadium this season. According to MLB.com's Sarah Langs, he's the first player to do this since the Statcast Era began in 2015. Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani In 2024, Ohtani now has three homers over 450 feet. The Dodgers' record for a season is held by Joc Pederson, who hit four in 2015. With more than three months left in the season, Ohtani has a good chance to tie or break that record. Ohtani's second home run came in the sixth inning, a 400-foot solo shot to right, doubling the Dodgers' lead. Fred

Photo: Instagram/Dwight Howard Dwight Howard ’s recruitment efforts are paying off. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the former NBA All-Star has successfully brought two of his ex-Lakers teammates to join him in Taiwan. DeMarcus Cousins and Quinn Cook will be playing alongside Howard for the Taiwan Mustangs during the Asian Tournament in July. Howard, Cousins, and Cook were part of the Los Angeles Lakers' 2020 NBA championship team, although Cousins did not play that season due to a torn ACL. Now, they will reunite on the Mustangs, a team in a league that Howard partly owns. Photo: Instagram/Dwight Howard DeMarcus Cousins, 33, last played in the NBA during the 2022-23 season. He has been in Taiwan this year, playing for the Taiwan Beer Leopards of the T1 League and leading them to a championship as the Finals MVP. Quinn Cook, 31, has played for several overseas teams in Russia, China, and Puerto Rico since his last NBA appearance in the 2020-21 season. Howard, 38, has b

Photo: Instagram/Dirk Nowitzki The Dallas Mavericks fell to the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, losing 106-88. This defeat ended their season, while the Celtics celebrated their 18th NBA Championship. Despite the loss, Mavericks fans can take pride in their team’s surprising run, especially since many critics didn’t even expect them to make the playoffs. Dallas legend Dirk Nowitzki , who knows the pain of losing in the Finals, shared words of encouragement. His Mavericks lost to the Miami Heat in 2006 before winning the championship in 2011. Nowitzki is making sure the team stays positive. "Great run @dallasmavs," Nowitzki posted on X. "Heads up!! We will be back!!!" Photo: Instagram/Dirk Nowitzki Nowitzki, who remains close to the franchise, continues to be a mentor and icon for the team. He played with Luka Doncic during Doncic's rookie season, helping to guide the young star. Nowitzki's influence is immortalized with a statue in front of the

Photo: Instagram/Cameron Brink Los Angeles Sparks rookie forward Cameron Brink suffered a left knee injury during the first quarter of Tuesday's game against the Connecticut Sun.  Brink, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft and former Stanford star, was carried to the locker room and later ruled out for the rest of the game. The injury happened as Brink drove to the basket and collided with Sun center Brionna Jones. Brink fell to the court and initially limped off but had to be carried off the court. Photo: Instagram/Cameron Brink Brink has been impressive on defense this season, averaging 8.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game.  She recently scored 16 points against the Atlanta Dream, her second-highest total in her WNBA career. Cameron Brink was carried to the locker room after this play. pic.twitter.com/5TptEkw65a — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 18, 2024 Fans and fellow athletes are hoping for a quick recovery for Brink, including well-wishes from basketball lege

Photo: Instagram/Cristiano Ronaldo In an exciting turn of events, Portugal's veteran defender Pepe has become the oldest player in European Championship history at 41 years old. This milestone came during Portugal's 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic in their Group F opener. Cristiano Ronaldo , another star from Portugal, was on the brink of breaking a 24-year record held by Lothar Matthaus, who played in Euro 2000 at the age of 39 years and 91 days. However, Pepe's appearance in the match at 41 years and 113 days took that honor, making him the tournament's oldest player. He surpassed Gabor Kiraly's record, who played at 40 years and 86 days for Hungary in 2016. While Ronaldo, at 39 years and 133 days, still has a chance to become the oldest goalscorer in Euro history, he faces competition from Pepe. The current record is held by Ivica Vastic, who scored at 38 years and 257 days for Austria in 2008. Photo: Instagram/Cristiano Ronaldo On a brighter note for Ronaldo

Photo: Instagram/Evander Holyfield Boxing legend Evander Holyfield has faced some of the sport's biggest names, and he has now revealed who he thinks was the best of them all. Holyfield, one of the most decorated boxers ever, ended his amateur career with an Olympic bronze medal. He then became a standout talent in the cruiserweight division before moving up to become a four-time heavyweight champion, despite being smaller than many of his opponents. Until Oleksandr Usyk matched his feat, Holyfield was the only man to achieve undisputed titles in both cruiserweight and heavyweight. Holyfield is well known for his infamous fight with Mike Tyson , where Tyson bit his ear, and for facing other legends like Lennox Lewis and George Foreman. But in an interview with Ring Magazine’s ‘Best I Faced’ series, Holyfield named Riddick Bowe as the greatest opponent he ever fought. Photo: Instagram/Evander Holyfield "I would say Bowe. I had three fights with Bowe. He was very competitive,

Photo: Instagram/Kawhi Leonard LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard did not cut his hair. Leonard was in Las Vegas for the Tank Davis vs. Frank Martin fight. He had attended another Davis fight last year and joined many NBA stars in Vegas for this year's match. Sitting close to the action, Leonard was photographed wearing a brown short-sleeved shirt, black pants, and black sunglasses. The picture, taken by Cassy Athena, went viral on Sunday night, making many fans believe Leonard had cut his hair. Photo: Instagram/Kawhi Leonard However, it turns out the angle and lighting created an illusion. Additional footage from that night showed Leonard with his hair tied back, as he often does during the offseason. A TikTok video from VegasMIB, who filmed several celebrities outside the fight, clearly showed Leonard’s hair tied back, debunking the viral rumor. Not what I expected to report on this summer, but Kawhi Leonard did not cut his hair. Via: VegasMiB on TikTok pic.twitter.com/6UFbolfQ2