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On April 12 at the Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, Jaron Ennis (34-0, 30 KOs) dazzled against Eimantas Stanionis (15-0, 9 KOs), winning by sixth-round TKO. The entire card was shown live on DAZN in over 200 countries. During the post-fight press conference, Eddie Hearn spoke about a unification fight between Ennis and Brian Norman Jr (27-0, 21 KOs), urging Norman to take action.
Hearn Discusses Jaron Ennis vs Brian Norman Jr After ‘Boots’ Dominates on April 12
Eddie Hearn Delivers Message to Brain Norman Jr
Jaron Ennis was imperious against Eimantas Stanionis, dominating from the first bell, picking his shots impressively while making his opponent miss. The excellent body shots from “Boots” began to take effect, with Ennis scoring a knockdown in round six.
While looking defeated on his stool at the end of round six, the fight was waved off and this clinical showing from Ennis made sure he was the new unified WBA/IBF and Ring Magazine welterweight champion.
During the post-fight presser, Ennis’ promoter Hearn had some words for Brian Norman Jr: “Guys, with all due respect to Brian Norman, he just boxed for about $150,000 on an undercard of Mikaela Mayer against Sandy Ryan at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas.
“If we go back to The Wells Fargo now to unify again, he will fill the whole place, 18–19,000 unquestionably. So there’s money in the pot, but you’ve got to show ambition as well.
“Brian Norman, for me, I spoke to Bob Arum during the week — he made it clear to me they want to try and make that fight. There’s probably close to 10 times the biggest payday of Brian Norman’s career to fight “Boots” Ennis.
“If you don’t want to get in the ring, you might as well retire from the sport, because what’s it all about? That kind of payday to fight the very best in the sport and prove yourself as a pound-for-pound great.
“So, stop with Twitter, stop with Instagram, grow a set of balls — and come and be in one of the biggest fights in the sport.”
Welterweight Division
Although the welterweight division still has talented fighters, it’s arguably not as stacked as it once was. Away from facing each other, it is difficult to see what else is out there for “Boots” and Norman, aside from Mario Barrios, the WBC champ.
I am sure we’ll hear plenty of back-and-forth between Team Ennis and Team Norman over the coming weeks and months, but a unification fight between the two would be a huge shot in the arm for the welterweight division.
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Jacksonville Jaguars Announce Unfortunate Decision After Win Against Chiefs
The Jacksonville Jaguars ended their 16-year losing streak to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night after a thrilling 31-28 victory at EverBank Stadium. Trevor Lawrence turned in another strong performance to help lead the Jaguars to victory with 18-of-25 completed passes for 221 yards and one touchdown. It wasn’t all good news for the Jaguars, though, who improved to 4-1 after taking down Patrick Mahomes and the mighty Chiefs. They lost starting tight end Brenton Strange in the first half after the former Penn State Nittany Lions star suffered a hip injury. Strange was unable to return to the game, and tests have determined a significant quad issue for the 24-year-old. The Jaguars took to social media on Tuesday to announce that Strange has been placed on injured reserve (IR), which means he will be forced to miss at least four games due to his hip problem. “The Jacksonville Jaguars have made the following roster moves: Placed TE Brenton Strange on injured reserve Signed WR Tim Jones to the practice squad Released WR Erik Ezukanma from the practice squad,” JaguarsPR posted on X. In five games played this season, Strange has already registered a team-high 20 catches for 204 yards. He hasn’t scored a touchdown yet, but is currently on pace to set career-high receiving marks. This injury is a tough blow amid his strong start, and the hope is that Strange will be able to pick up where he left off once he’s healthy enough to return. The silver lining for the Jaguars here is that Strange has reportedly avoided a season-ending injury, and the team expects him to be back in around a month. For now, Jacksonville will need to turn to the likes of Johnny Mundt and Hunter Long to fill the void at tight end. The Jaguars also announced on Tuesday that they’ve brought in WR Tim Jones to the practice squad, while Erik Ezukanma has been released. It remains to be seen if Jones will be able to do enough to earn a spot on the active roster. Jacksonville’s next game is on Sunday as they take on the 3-2 Seattle Seahawks in a home game at EverBank Stadium for Week 6.
Officiating Crew For Steelers-Browns Game Gives 1 Team Clear Advantage
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been dominant against the Cleveland Browns under Head Coach Mike Tomlin. However, an AFC North contest coming off a bye week is never something Steelers fans overlook. With the Browns sitting at 1-4 and the Steelers at 3-1, a victory in this matchup is pivotal for Pittsburgh to start AFC North play on the right foot. The Steelers are looking to carry momentum from a strong start to the season, and continuing their winning ways against a divisional rival would set a positive tone for the months ahead. The Browns will be starting rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who will be making just his second-ever NFL start. The Steelers' defense will look to make life extremely difficult for the rookie on Sunday. One area that is always important in these matchups is the officiating crew. According to NFL Ref Stats, the Steelers appear to have a significant advantage in this contest against the Browns. Historically, Pittsburgh has fared well under certain officiating crews, particularly those with tendencies that favor defensive schemes and physical play at the line of scrimmage. This statistical edge may not guarantee a win, but it certainly provides a subtle advantage that could tip critical calls in Pittsburgh’s favor during a tightly contested game. Beyond the numbers, the Steelers will need to execute clean football on both sides of the ball. Protecting the quarterback, establishing the run, and maintaining discipline on defense will be key to neutralizing Cleveland’s biggest playmakers. While the Browns are struggling this season, divisional games often bring out unexpected performances, making preparation and focus essential. If Pittsburgh can combine their historical dominance, officiating edge, and disciplined execution, they have a strong chance to assert control early in AFC North play and keep their division hopes alive. Ron Torbert will serve as the officiating head for this contest, and the numbers clearly favor the Steelers. In games Torbert has officiated, Pittsburgh has gone an impressive 10-1, showing a consistent trend of success under his oversight. Even more striking, the Steelers are a perfect 8-0 at home in games where Torbert is the head referee, highlighting a significant home-field advantage when he is on the crew. Steelers Should Have Edge In Week 6 Against Browns Expect the officials to focus heavily on offensive penalties, as Torbert has a reputation for calling more infractions on the offense than the defense. According to NFL Ref Stats, he assesses 52.5% of all penalties against the offense, ranking fourth in the league for offensive penalties per game. This suggests that both teams will need to maintain discipline, but it could particularly benefit Pittsburgh, a team built around physical play and disciplined execution. For the Steelers, this officiating angle could be an advantage they can capitalize on, especially early in the game. By staying sharp and minimizing mistakes, Pittsburgh can force Cleveland into difficult situations while maintaining momentum. With Torbert on the field, the historical trends and penalty tendencies both point to a scenario where the Steelers have an extra edge in controlling the pace and flow of this crucial AFC North matchup. The Steelers sit as -200 favorites in this contest and it seems like a lot is on their side.
LeBron James & Steve Nash Send Strong Message to Adam Silver Over Long-Standing Kawhi Leonard Issue
The NBA is facing a growing injury crisis, and many believe it’s tied to the demanding 82-game schedule. While some, like Steve Kerr, have long advocated for change, he even emailed Commissioner Adam Silver before last season, urging a reduction to 65 games! On the other hand, some do feel 82 is a sweet spot. The debate continues to divide the league, as concerns over player health and performance intensify. Now, LeBron James and Steve Nash have stepped in to share their perspectives. While discussing the sheer amount of superstars injured for the upcoming season on their ‘Mind The Game‘ podcast, Nash asked James about how much of it has to do with the number of games today’s players have to play each year. The Los Angeles Lakers forward gave a very balanced reply: “I mean, I don’t know, I can’t sit here and say that I have the direct answer to that. But we are at this point in the era that we’re playing in, it’s a lot more running.” While LeBron played it safe, Nash did not hold back. The former Suns star sent a strong message to the NBA, especially to commissioner Adam Silver. “When the acceling-deceling in space, there’s no getting around the wear and tear that causes. Like, we were talking about elite athletes covering elite athletes in bigger spaces, longer rotations, more closeouts, more possessions. Unfortunately, it just is a factor,” Nash pointed out. If you take an ideal scenario, a team can play around 110 games. 82 and then if you take 7 games (ideal situation) in each of the 4 rounds of the playoffs. “And then, so I hate load management. But it’s a part of the equation. We have to be smart. We don’t want guys to miss when LeBron James goes to Atlanta, we don’t want some kid to be sad ’cause he’s got to sit up. But sometimes that’s the reality. It’s that we have to be smart about it. So I don’t know, I feel like it’s an important part of the puzzle is managing the rigors of the game.” Well, Steve Nash does present a fair argument, because we have seen the Clippers star dealing with this issue. Although many fans criticize players like Kawhi Leonard and Joel Embiid for sitting out a significant number of games each season, it might be the result of the immense amount of stress their bodies have taken over time. After all, there’s a huge difference in playing 82 games back in the day compared to today. Then, players did not have to run 20-30 feet to cover a shooter, which might not seem much during one game, but takes a toll on an athlete’s muscles over the season. Teams will have to lean on load management because they do not have any other way of protecting their players. It’s not like the franchise and players like to disappoint the fans, the former Nets head coach revealed, but they don’t want to risk losing their stars for key games. Nonetheless, while LeBron James and Steve Nash have sent strong messages through their statements, what can be the solution? Is there a way to solve the NBA’s load management crisis? Well, in the past few years, load management has become a massive issue for the league, with fans frustrated with the situation. Although the NBA did come up with a way to combat the issue, as they issued a minimum threshold of 65 games for them to become eligible to be considered for the end-of-the-season honors, that doesn’t solve the root cause. You see, while this might prompt players to not sit out every game, the real problem, as Lakers superstar LeBron James and former NBA guard Steve Nash pointed out, is the wear and tear of muscles. The only, or rather an immediate solution, is to reduce the number of regular-season games unless there’s a solid alternative. That’s because any other solution than that will not help the players’ health, which should be a priority for the association. In fact, as mentioned, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has already raised this concern before. “I’m concerned about the product because I think we are asking way too much of our players,” Kerr said back in November last year. “The game has never been more difficult to play at a high level night after night after night. We should account for that. We all need to be thinking about that, for sure.” The Dubs boss pointed out that, given how difficult the game has become for players daily, teams have no choice but to sit out their players for certain games. As disappointing as it might be for the fans, it’s something the franchises have to do to avoid risking their players suffering a serious injury. Now, with more players and coaches joining Kerr, such as James and Nash, the league might finally be forced to look into this issue. However, reducing the number of games is easier said than done. So, will Adam Silver and Co. finally take some action to solve the NBA’s load management issue, or not? That’s something we can only wait and watch as the new season approaches.
Rams Practice Report: A Star is Emerging in the Trenches
WOODLAND HILLS, Ca. The Los Angeles Rams, despite having a few more days off due to their Thursday night game last week, entered Wednesday littered with injuries. Injuries As per Sean McVay: Rob Havenstein (ankle), Tyler Higbee (hip), and Omar Speights (high ankle sprain) did not practice on Wednesday. Colby Parkinson (concussion protocol), Nate Landman (ankle soreness), and Kam Kinchens (knee soreness) were limited. The Fallout of Speights While Omar Speights has yet to be ruled out, he is listed at doubtful. McVay clarified his words from Monday, stating Wednesday that Troy Reeder and Shaun Dolac will split reps while they figure out how they'll replace Speights if they need to. My Take While reporters are only allowed access to a limited portion of practice, from what I saw, if the Rams play without Speights, Shaun Dolac should see the field a lot as well as Jaylen McCollough. While Reeder has looked decent, Wednesday reaffirmed a point and that is that Reeder has a clear ceiling and that ceiling is good enough for certain plays but if Landman is on the field, Dolac is in better position to hunt and he's better in coverage. While Reeder is better at intercepting passing lanes, Dolac's ability shrinks natural passing lanes up the seam, which should give the pass rush the time needed to affect the quarterback, likely to be Cooper Rush this week. Plus Jaylen McCollough should help supplement in coverage. Winner of the Day Poona Ford and it's not even close. The power that Ford possesses should be the key to limiting Derrick Henry and if the Rams are able to corral Henry at the line of scrimmage, they do not have other options to hurt the Rams, as long as Lamar Jackson doesn't play. The Ravens have two options. Give the ball to Henry or throw to Zay Flowers and Ford is able to eliminate the first option. Ford's straight up power was on display and his usage has powered the Rams' strong start to bringing down dominant running backs. Ford signed a massive deal this offseason and he's been worth every penny if not outplaying the contract. Opinion While reporters aren't allowed access to certain parts of practice, from what I saw, Steve Avila needs to get the start on Sunday. He just has the tools to dominate.
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