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After more than a decade away from the boxing ring, Holly Holm is officially making her return—but not without risk. The 43-year-old former UFC bantamweight champion and multiple-time boxing titleholder has signed with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions. While the headlines initially focused on Holm’s comeback, today brought a deeper look at her next opponent—an undefeated fighter with everything to gain.
Holm, known for her 33-2-3 record in boxing before shifting to MMA, hasn’t competed in a boxing match since May 2013. Her last bout was a unanimous decision win over Mary McGee, where Holm successfully defended both the IBA and WBF light welterweight titles. Over the years, she cemented herself as one of the most accomplished female strikers in combat sports, famously shocking the world by knocking out Ronda Rousey in 2015 to claim UFC gold.
Holly Holm returns to the ring on June 28th #PaulChavez x #RamirezDorticos | June 28 | Live Exclusively on DAZN | @MostVpromotions | @GoldenBoyBoxing | ️Available to buy soon pic.twitter.com/IP7YxMC6bH
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) May 14, 2025
Her comeback opponent, 29-year-old Mexican boxer Yolanda Vega, enters this matchup with a spotless 10-0 record, including one knockout. All ten of her professional bouts have taken place in Mexico, making the upcoming clash on June 28 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, live on DAZN her first-ever fight on U.S. soil. her first-ever fight on U.S. soil. Vega’s last victory came in March 2025 via unanimous decision over Claudia Fernanda Herrera Lopez, where she earned the WBA Fedelatin super lightweight title.
While Holm’s legacy in boxing is unquestionable—capturing titles in multiple weight classes and defending them with tactical brilliance—this new chapter begins with genuine uncertainty.
Vega is untested outside her home country, but undefeated nonetheless, and Holm is 12 years removed from her last bout. This could be a comeback tale or a passing-of-the-torch moment. Either way, fight fans will be watching.
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All signs point to Yankees moving on from Anthony Volpe
With the trade for Ryan McMahon now complete, it would seem New York Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has fulfilled one of his three priorities. He can now cross third base off the list, which leaves the rotation and bullpen as his remaining priorities. However, according to one Yankees writer, Cashman might not be done with the infield. Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reported this after the McMahon trade: “The Yankees may not be done adding to their infield. A team source said the Yankees are interested in adding a right-handed hitter who could play the infield.” Kirschner adds that the Yankees have had interest in Willi Castro and Amed Rosario. But the question now is, how would another player fit into the Yankees’ infield? Needless to say, Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr. aren’t going anywhere, and McMahon is just getting there. That leaves the low-hanging fruit. Anthony Volpe has been at the center of controversy all this season. His 13 errors, many of which had come at make-or-break moments, amount to the second-highest total in the game. In addition, his bat has not been able to compensate, hitting .214/.286/.407 with 14 home runs. There was always a lot to like about Volpe. He won a Gold Glove in his rookie year, his power has always been promising and his speed is nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately, his glove has become a liability, and his speed has also produced very few results. Volpe has swiped just 10 bags in 17 attempts. His power is the one thing that still has some upside, but it hasn’t been enough to justify a spot in the lineup. Both Castro and Rosario have been far more productive at the plate this season than Volpe. Kirschner doesn’t clarify how serious the Yankees are in their pursuit of another infielder, but that most likely isn’t available information. Having just turned 24, Volpe could still become the type of player that was expected from him as a top prospect. However, his recent performance has weighed heavily on his team’s efforts, and it may be buying him a ticket out of the Bronx — or at least a spot on the bench.
Hype around Yankees prospect Spencer Jones creating unrealistic expectations
The most intriguing baseball player not currently in the major leagues might be New York Yankees prospect Spencer Jones. That's not only because of the impressive numbers he has put up in Triple-A, but also because of his perceived value in trade talks ahead of Thursday's MLB trade deadline. That trade speculation, and the Yankees' reported expectations for what that trade value is, might be doing him more harm than good when it comes to his future in the big leagues. With the Yankees in need of significant help to make another World Series run, Jones is one of the prospects that has been speculated as a potential trade chip. But according to baseball insider Jon Heyman, the Yankees are only willing to trade him for one type of player: a Paul Skenes type. Since Skenes is not likely to move, and since the handful of players on that level are also unlikely to move, it probably means that Jones is going to remain with the Yankees organization. It's a long-winded way of saying he is almost untouchable in trade talks. That, frankly, seems to be an absurd position for the Yankees to take, assuming it is their position. Not because Jones isn't a good prospect, but because they might be setting an unrealistic expectation for the type of player he is or can become. He is far from a sure thing or a can't-miss prospect. His power is prodigious, and in 19 games since his promotion to Triple-A, he has already hit 13 home runs with a 1.407 OPS. Those numbers jump off the page at you and make him the type of player a team and front office (and fans) can dream on. It's exciting, and it's encouraging in an era where power and home runs are one of the first things teams look for with hitters. But there is something else in Jones' game that also jumps off the page, and it is far less encouraging. It is the strikeouts. As in, he strikes out ... a lot. A concerning amount. For his career (entering play on Sunday), he had already struck out 469 times in 1,310 minor league at-bats. That is a strikeout rate over 35%. His Double-A strikeout rate was an even more concerning 40.22% over the past two-and-a-half seasons. It reached as high as 42% during the 2024 season. While that number has come down a bit since his promotion to Triple-A, it's such a small sample size of games and at-bats that it's hard to know if it's a real improvement or just a random hot streak. While strikeouts have become far more accepted in the major leagues in this era, especially for power hitters, there still has to be some concern and tempered expectations for a guy who misses the ball that much in the minors. The opposing arms and the quality of pitches he sees are only going to get tougher as he takes the next step into the major leagues. There is also the fact he is 24 years old and has only played 19 games above Double-A ball. Not to mention the fact the Yankees — the team that would know him better than anybody — do not seem to be in a rush to promote him to the big league club. If the Yankees really thought that highly of him and really believed in him being a difference-maker, he might already be an option for them. There are red flags here. This is not to say that Jones won't be good. It is also not suggesting that the Yankees should trade him for just anybody. It is simply saying he shouldn't be an almost untouchable trade asset for a team trying to win a World Series right now. He's an intriguing prospect with big flaws that could ultimately hold him back.
Lakers' Luka Doncic Going Viral for Shocking Body Transformation
The Los Angeles Lakers have been very invested in getting Luka Doncic into better shape this offseason. After how poorly he played defense and how tired he looked against Minnesota in the playoffs, it has been their top priority. Doncic has never been the most fit player in the league. He is still one of the best players in the league, but he could be a lot better if he were less tired at the end of the season. So far this offseason, it looks like Doncic has been committed to the training program that the Lakers put him on. He looks like an entirely different player. More news: NBA Insider Reveals Why Bradley Beal Spurned Lakers for Clippers A video of Doncic has been circulating online, showing off his body transformation. The Lakers would be thrilled if Doncic were able to stay this fit all year long. He needs to be able to play better defense now that he is the face of the franchise, and that could be abetted by improved lateral quickness. A big reason why the Lakers lost to the Timberwolves in the playoffs is because of their inability to stop guards from penetrating the paint. The starting backcourt is not a good defensive one. Doncic isn't the only one to blame for poor perimeter defense. Austin Reaves isn't the best defender, either. The difference with him is that he at least tries to be in the right spot on defense. At times against the Wolves, he was too tired to actually stay in front of some of the players who were attacking him. A large part of Minnesota's game plan was to get Doncic switched on to Anthony Edwards. More news: Massive 5-Team Blockbuster Trade Sees Lakers' LeBron James Shipped for $238 Million All-Star The Lakers would be in a great position to contend for a title if Doncic could stay in shape for an entire season. Based on this video, he has a renewed commitment to doing that. Doncic likely has extra motivation to show the Dallas Mavericks what they decided to trade away. He wants to prove them wrong for deciding to get rid of him. After he was traded to the Lakers, Doncic averaged 28.2 points per game, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game. He shot 43.8 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. More news: Former Lakers Guard Signing in Israel to Continue Career For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, visit Los Angeles Lakers on SI.
Lakers President Jeanie Buss Has Unexpected Offer for Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham
Sunday afternoon at the United Center, the Indiana Fever defeated the Chicago Sky 93-78, pushing their record to 14-12. Kelsey Mitchell led all scorers with 35 points and six assists on 12-of-19 shooting, complemented by Aliyah Boston's double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds) and double-digit scoring from Aari McDonald (10 points) and Makayla Timpson (14 points). Despite a modest five-point performance (1-of-6 from the floor), veteran guard Sophie Cunningham made headlines for another reason, earning a shoutout from Los Angeles Lakers' president Jeanie Buss. Midway through the contest, Buss, responding to news that Cunningham had received a women's wrestling offer after her role as WNBA enforcer, posted on X saying, "We would love to have @SophieCunning5 join us at @wowsuperheroes she is talented, dedicated and a fierce competitor!!" Buss is a co-owner of Women of Wrestling (WOW), an American women's professional wrestling promotion that was founded in 2000 and revived by Buss in 2019. Cunningham, who suited up for her 200th career WNBA game on July 16, has quickly become one of Indiana’s most reliable reserve scorers. Acquired in a four-team trade on January 31, she went from the Phoenix Mercury, where she averaged 7.7 points in six seasons, to a complementary role behind All-Stars Mitchell and Caitlin Clark. In her first 21 games with Indiana this year, Cunningham has posted 7.5 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals per contest while shooting 43.4% from the floor and 40% from beyond the arc. However, rather than her raw statistics, it was Cunningham’s blend of physicality and flair for the dramatic that caught the wrestling world's eyes, notably Buss. Recognizing in Cunningham the same mix of showmanship and toughness that underpins WOW, Buss reached out in jest to see if Cunningham might consider trading in her sneakers for a career between the ropes.
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