Olympics: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

World champion’s brutal knockout erased a month of memories for his fierce opponent

Brian Norman Jr. scored a ‘Knockout of The Year’ contender in his recent world title defense in Japan. Brian Norman Jr. won the WBO interim welterweight title with a stunning tenth-round KO over Giovanni Santillan.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Senegal women's hoops team denied U.S. visas

The prime minister of Senegal said the women's basketball team has canceled plans to train in the U.S. after visa applications of five players and seven officials were not approved.

Boxing News / BoxingNews.com / June 20

Peter McGrail vs. Ionut Baluta: Preview & Betting Tips

After the injury withdrawal of Shabaz Masoud, Peter McGrail now faces off against Romania’s Ionut Baluta in a high-risk low reward clash in Birmingham on Saturday night. Peter McGrail (11-1, 6 KO’s) has made a smooth transition into the pro ranks after having a standout amateur career.

Olympics News / ESPN / June 20

Reports: Jamaican Olympians to represent Turkey

A pair of Jamaican Olympic medalists have switched their allegiance to Turkey after reportedly agreeing to $500,000 signing bonuses and monthly financial support to make the move.

Galal Yafai News / Big Fight Weekend / June 20

Galal Yafai vs. Francisco Rodríguez Jr.: Press Conference Quotes and Fight Prediction

Galal Yafai (9-0, 7 KOs) and Francisco Rodríguez Jr. (39-6-1, 27 KOs, 1 NC) will soon face each other in a 12-round flyweight clash. Their bout headlines a Matchroom Boxing card at the bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham, England.

At Jackie Robinson's high school, a fire-ravaged city rebuilds

After one in four students lost their homes or were displaced by the Eaton fire, their school held them together.

Olympics News / ESPN / June 20

Olympic leader Bach received 10% raise in 2024

The IOC paid its president Thomas Bach $350,000 in 2024 -- a 10% raise for his final full year in office after a two-year freeze.

Boxing News / BoxingNews.com / June 20

What’s Next For Brian Norman Jr.?

Brian Norman Jr. defended his WBO Welterweight Title, beating Jin Sasaki via a fifth-round stoppage, as we look at his next steps. Norman Jr. went undefeated with a 28-0 record, with 21 knockouts.

Olympics News / ESPN / June 20

Skater Sakamoto to retire after 2026 Olympics

Kaori Sakamoto, the three-time figure skating world champion, will retire after next year's 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, she said Friday.

Boxing News / BoxingNews.com / June 20

Galal Yafai And Rodriguez Prepare For War – ‘He’s Never Faced Someone Like Me’

Galal Yafai and Francisco Rodriguez Jr. held their final press conference before their June 21 flyweight bout. Yafai makes a defense of his WBC Interim Flyweight Title.

Jin Sasaki Suffers Memory Loss After Brutal Brian Norman Jr Knockout

Jin Sasaki has no memory of the night he attempted to make history as the first Japanese boxer to win a welterweight world title. On June 15, 2025, Sasaki (15–2, 10 KOs) was knocked out by American contender Brian Norman Jr.

Olympics News / ESPN / June 19

Johnson, Miles headline Women's AmeriCup roster

Potential 2026 WNBA draft lottery picks Flau'jae Johnson of LSU and Olivia Miles of TCU will play for USA Basketball in the upcoming FIBA Women's AmeriCup in Chile.

Brian Norman Jr. News / NY Fights / June 19

Brian Norman Jr. Delivers Knockout of the Year In Japan

In a stunning, star-making performance, WBO World Welterweight world champion Brian Norman Jr. of Atlanta (28-0, 22 KOs) scored what could stand up as the Knockout of the Year, dropping hometown challenger Jin Sasaki of Tokyo (19-2-1, 17 KOs) on Thursday at Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan.

Olympics News / ESPN / June 19

Table Tennis in India set for change as WTT aims big with new venture

World Table Tennis is launching WTT Event Management, a new venture dedicated for events in India. How will it work?

Boxing News / BoxingNews.com / June 19

Norman Jr. Stops Sasaki In KO Of The Year Contender

Brian Norman Jr. defended his WBO Welterweight Title against Jin Sasaki with a brutal fifth-round stoppage. Norman Jr. was looking to unify the division, having knocked out Derrieck Cuevas in his last fight.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The '300-strikeout MLB seasons' quiz

The 'Most goals in a Stanley Cup Playoffs' quiz

The 'Most points with zero assists in the NBA Finals' quiz

The '5+ goals in one Stanley Cup Final in the Modern Era' quiz

Olympics News / Field Level Media / June 3

Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas calls out bettor for verbal abuse

Gabby Thomas, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, said that an adult male sports bettor followed and verbally abused her during a Grand Slam Track meet in Philadelphia over the weekend.

Boxing News / Athlon Sports / June 1

Callum Simpson To Take On 'Knockout King' Ivan Zucco

Prepare yourself for a night to remember in Barnsley, local boy Simpson will put his unbeaten, i.e., perfect record, on the line. Simpson will face off against Italian knockout artist Ivan Zucco for the European super middleweight title at Oakwell Stadium.

Patrick Mahomes News / Larry Brown Sports / May 29

Patrick Mahomes answers whether he wants to play Olympic flag football

Patrick Mahomes is viewed by many as the best option to be the quarterback of Team USA’s first Olympic flag football team, but does he even want to play?

Patrick Mahomes discusses whether 2025 could be Travis Kelce's 'last ride'

One major move for every AFC team to make

The most crushing defeats in NFL playoff history

The 'Super Bowl touchdown pass leaders' quiz

Olympics News / Pro Hockey Rumors / May 26

Russia to be barred from 2026 Winter Olympics

In an article from Sammi Silber of The Hockey News, he shares that the International Olympic Committee will officially bar the Russian Federation from participating in the 2026 Winter Olympics. It’ll mark the second consecutive Winter Olympic Games that Russia has been barred from due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Darrell Doucette III gives opinion on flag football roster makeup at Olympics

Thompson twins could get Jamaican basketball to the Olympics

The 'Three-letter Olympic code' quiz

NFL News / Pro Football Rumors / May 26

Doucette III gives opinion on flag roster makeup at Olympics

Darrell Doucette III gives opinion on flag football roster makeup at Olympics

In 2028, active NFL players will be eligible to participate in the Los Angeles Olympics (provided the necessary arrangements can be made, of course).

Roger Goodell: USA Football will select Olympic flag football rosters, not NFL

Flag football star Doucette’s highlights surface amid Olympic debate

Examining flag football’s international past

Which NFL rookies will be difference-makers next season?

NBA News / Yardbarker / May 25

Thompson twins could get Jamaican basketball to the Olympics

Jamaica has the 107th-ranked basketball team in the world and the 22nd-ranked team in the Americas. But adding a talented set of twins could lift the Jamaicans to a new level.

NBA stars from the Jordan era you may have forgotten

The '2008 Team USA men's basketball' quiz

Green Bay Packers News / Yardbarker / May 24

Jordan Love has three-word response to Olympic flag football question

NFL team owners voted on Tuesday to unanimously approve a proposal that will allow players to participate in flag football at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, Calif.

Report: NFL pushed Packers to propose tush push ban

The potential breakout player from all 32 NFL teams

The '2023 NFL Team receiving yards leader' quiz