Henry Cejudo to Make Professional Boxing Debut Against Javon “Wanna” Walton

Posted on September 15, 2026 by Tom Castaneda

Henry Cejudo has a new opponent for his professional boxing debut

The 39-year-old Mexican-American freestyle wrestler and former mixed martial artist, a retired UFC champion, will face actor and professional boxing prospect Javon “Wanna” Walton (3-0-1, 1 KO) in the main event of Misfits Boxing.

The event will take place inside James L. Knight Arena on September 26 in Miami.

Cejudo, a former two-division UFC champion, was originally supposed to face influencer boxer Nurideen Shabazz, aka Dean the Great, but Shabazz was forced to withdraw due to injury.

“I knew all along that Dean The B—- would back out, and so I am not surprised,” Cejudo said in a statement released to ESPN. “But I have a new opponent now, who thinks he’s a fighter, but Wanna will be playing another robot by the time I’m done with him.”

Walton, 20, is best known for playing Ashtray in the HBO series Euphoria. He is a former amateur boxer; he turned professional in 2023.

“Henry Cejudo is an Olympic gold medalist and a former UFC champion, so I know exactly the level of athlete I’m stepping in there with,” Walton said. “This fight came up out of nowhere and I stepped up without hesitation. I stay ready for moments like this. This is boxing, and this is my world.”

Walton is currently signed to Jake Paul‘s Most Valuable Promotions, where he has gone 2-0 in appearances in December 2024 and September 2025. MVP, which is not promoting the event, signed off on Walton’s involvement.

“Most Valuable Promotions will never stand in the way when we are presented with a meaningful opportunity for our athletes, even when we have no involvement in the event,” MVP co-founder Nakisa Bidarian said. “Misfits offered us a significant financial guarantee for Wanna to step in on short notice against Henry Cejudo, an Olympic gold medalist and two-division UFC champion. It’s a tremendous opportunity for Wanna to show the world why you don’t play boxing and I am confident he will shine bright as the star he is and defeat a UFC great.”

Nico González Transferring to Newcastle United

Posted on August 25, 2026 by Tom Castaneda

Nico González is switching sides.

The Spanish midfielder’s transfer from Manchester City to Newcastle United has been agreed, according to ESPN.

Gonzalez is set to move to St James’ Park in a £52 million deal ($70.9m), sources said. Newcastle will pay an initial £48 million ($65.4m) with another £4 million ($5.5m) in potential add-ons.

He becomes the fourth senior midfielder to leave Manchester City this summer following the departures of Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Tijjani Reijnders.

González will depart after 18 months at Man City, having arrived from Porto for £50 million in January 2025. He made 59 appearances for the club, scoring four goals.

At one stage during the summer he said he wanted to stay at City, but has now chosen to accept Newcastle’s offer. He was an unused substitute in the 2-1 win over Bournemouth on Sunday with new head coach Enzo Maresca choosing instead to field center back Marc Guéhi in midfield.

Ferran Torres Reportedly Leaving FC Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain

Posted on August 13, 2026 by Tom Castaneda

Ferran Torres is preparing for a twilight in Paris…

The 26-year-old Spanish soccer star and FC Barcelona forward will join European champions after the two clubs reached a deal in principle for around €50 million ($58m), a source confirmed to ESPN.

The transfer is reportedly expected to be completed in the coming days, with Torres due to fly to Paris to complete a medical exam before signing for the French side.

ESPN revealed earlier this week that Barça had rejected an opening offer of €40m from PSG but that negotiations remained ongoing.

Barça were open to keeping Torres, and even extending his contract but, with one year to run on his existing deal, agreed to sanction a move after he asked to leave.

Torres arrives at PSG on a high after scoring the winning goal in the FIFA World Cup final for Spain against Argentina.

He’ll play under Luis Enrique for a second time, having previously worked under the coach when he was Spain boss, and will add depth to one of Europe‘s strongest front lines.

Having started out as a winger, he has moved into a central position in recent years and is expected to be used as a No. 9 in Paris after the departure of Gonçalo Ramos to AC Milan.

Torres netted 21 goals for Barça last season, and his exit will leave the Spanish champions without a clear striker after Robert Lewandowski also left the club this summer, going to the Chicago Fire.

Atlético Madrid‘s Julián Álvarez remains their top target, but they could be forced to look elsewhere with the deal proving hard to get over the line.

Arsenal Complete Signing of Martín Zubimendi from Real Sociedad

Posted on July 6, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Martín Zubimendi is upgrading his arsenal…

Arsenal have completed the signing of the 26-year-old highly rated Spanish midfielder from Real Sociedad, the club have announced.

The north London club beat opposition from top European outfits after triggering Zubimendi’s €60 million ($67m) release clause.

His contract at Real Sociedad was due to expire in June 2027.

A source told ESPN that Real Madrid tried to sign Zubimendi when Xabi Alonso replaced Carlo Ancelotti in May, but a deal with Arsenal had already been struck in March.

Zubimendi had the chance to move to the Premier League a year ago having been Liverpool‘s top choice in defensive midfield.

However, he turned down the transfer, opting instead to remain atReal Sociedad for the 2024-25 season, a decision he later said was “the right one.

A Sociedad youth product, Zubimendi spent five years with the first team, making over 170 appearances across all competitions.

The San Sebastián-born player had reportedly attracted interest from Real Madrid this summer after strong performances in LaLiga, and with Spain at Euro 2024.

In the final against England, he came on in place of injured Rodri at half-time and shone in the deep-lying midfield role as Spain went on to win 2-1.

Manchester City also tracked Zubimendi after Rodri sustained a serious knee injury in September.

It’s believed Mikel Arteta played a key role in talks with Zubimendi to convince the player to join Arsenal this summer.

Zubimendi will join his former Real Sociedad teammate Mikel Merino, who signed for the club last summer.

Al Hilal in Advanced Talks with AC Milan for Theo Hernández

Posted on June 23, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Theo Hernández is nearing a deal to move to the Middle East.

Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal are in advanced negotiations with AC Milan to sign the 27-year-old half-Spanish French soccer player for a fee close to €30 million ($34.6m), per ESPN sources.

The French international was reportedly under consideration by Atlético Madrid, but negotiations fell through.

Sources told ESPN that all indications are he will continue his career in Saudi Arabia.

A source admitted to ESPN that the full-back had some doubts about a move to Al Hilal, but added that negotiations are progressing well, with some minor details still pending.

He is known for his speed, dribbling, and goal scoring ability.

Gabriela Fundora Remains Undisputed Flyweight Champion with TKO Victory Over Marilyn Badillo

Posted on April 20, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Gabriela Fundora is keeping her titles…

In a flawless performance, the 23-year-old Mexican American professional boxer retained her undisputed flyweight championship with a seventh-round TKO victory over Marilyn Badillo on Saturday at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California.

Fighting for the first time in 2025, Fundora, a southpaw who had a six-inch height advantage and a four-inch reach advantage, had no problem landing her lead jab and lead hook against the shorter Badillo, who employed feints to get inside but couldn’t find the way to shorten the distance.

Badillo had a good Round 4, landing a left uppercut on Fundora and going low to try to get inside, but most of the time, Fundora’s straight left found Badillo’s chin, stopping her attacks. By the end of the round, Badillo had redness under her right eye and a big hematoma on her forehead due to an unintentional headbutt.

After the fight, Fundora said she found her rhythm during the first round. She said she saw Badillo was “doing her ducking thing, but [she was] still always there.”

In the seventh round, Fundora overwhelmed Badillo with a flurry of punches, accentuated by a powerful straight left that forced Badillo to take a knee. Referee Rudy Barragan gave her the count, but Badillo didn’t want to continue.

According to CompuBox, Fundora landed 99 of her power punches compared with only 21 for Badillo.

“I think I’m maturing,” Fundora, from Coachella, California, said of her performance. “I knew the stoppage was going to come. It just again, how I wanted to place it, and I think with this one it was more of a relaxed kind of tempo.”

Fundora (16-0, 8 KOs) came into the bout as ESPN‘s No. 1-ranked flyweight, while Badillo (19-1-1, 3 KOs) was ranked No. 3.

Fundora made history in November by knocking out Gabriela Celeste Alaniz in Round 7 to become boxing’s youngest undisputed champion ever at 22. In that fight, Fundora added the WBO, WBC and WBA women’s flyweight titles to the IBF title she already owned.

Badillo, whose 19-fight winning streak was snapped, had never fought outside of Mexico. This was just her fourth bout at 10 rounds and her first title fight.

Emanuel Navarrete to Defend WBO Junior Lightweight Title vs. Charly Suarez in May

Posted on March 20, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Emanuel Navarrete is going on the defensive…

The 30-year-old Mexican professional boxer will defend his WBO junior lightweight title vs. Charly Suarez on May 10 in San Diego in an ESPN main event, per an ESPN source.

Navarrete, ESPN’s No. 1 lightweight, will put his 130-pound title on the line for the fourth time.

He scored a sixth-round KO of Oscar Valdez in a December rematch in his return to 130 pounds.

Previously, Navarrete (39-2-1, 32 KOs) was outpointed at 135 pounds by Denys Berinchyk in May as he attempted to become a four-division champion.

Suarez (18-0, 10 KOs) is the WBO‘s top-rated contender, so this will fulfill a mandatory obligation for Navarrete. At 36, the Filipino will challenge for his first world title. And it will be Suarez’s first time fighting on the world-class level.

Zaur Abdullaev will fight Raymond Muratalla on the undercard for the IBF interim lightweight title.

Vasily Lomachenko, who holds the IBF title, would next have to face the winner or be stripped. Abdullaev (20-1, 12 KOs) is unrated by ESPN while Muratalla (22-0, 17 KOs) is No. 10.

Fight Freaks United was first to report the Navarrete-Suarez bout.

Pumas UNAM In Talks to Acquire Adalberto Carrasquilla from Houston Dynamo FC

Posted on January 8, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Adalberto Carrasquilla may be switching sides and countries…

Liga MX side Pumas UNAM is in discussions with MLS’ Houston Dynamo FC regarding the possible acquisition of the 26-year-old Panamanian professional footballer, per ESPN sources.

An ESPN source with direct knowledge of the talks says “there is still a ways to go” in terms of getting a deal completed.

Carrasquilla has been with Houston for parts of four seasons, having initially impressed while on loan in 2021. He has since become a mainstay in manager Ben Olsen‘s squad, and was part of the Dynamo’s successful run to the 2023 U.S. Open Cup title. Carrasquilla’s time in Houston has seen him score 11 goals in 116 league and cup appearances.

The Panama City, Panama native began his professional career in his home country with Tauro FC in 2014. He spent two seasons in Spain with second-tier side FC Cartagena.

At the international level, Carrasquilla has represented Panama 63 times, scoring twice. He was part of the squad that eliminated the U.S. at last summer’s Copa América, though his red card against the USMNT meant he only made two appearances in the tournament.

Goal.com was among the outlets to first report Pumas’ interest.

Pumas, fresh off a quarterfinal finish in the 2024 Apertura, start the 2025 Clausura on January 12 against Necaxa.

Patrick Sandoval Agrees to Two-Year, $18.25 Million Contract with Boston Red Sox

Posted on December 20, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Patrick Sandoval is seeing red (sox)…

The 28-year-old Mexican American professional baseball player, a left-handed pitcher, has agreed to a two-year, $18.25 million contract with the Boston Red Sox, per ESPN sources.

The deal unites the veteran who was non-tendered in November with a team looking to shore up its pitching depth this year and beyond.

Sandoval underwent Tommy John surgery in June and is not expected to pitch until the second half of 2025.

Boston nevertheless paid a well-over-market rate to get Sandoval, cognizant of the heavy price of free agent starting pitchers this winter and hopeful that Sandoval can be a solid mid-rotation starter upon his return.

Sandoval’s estimated arbitration salary for 2025 was around $5.5 million, and rather than trade him, the Los Angeles Angels non-tendered him. Had Sandoval been offered a contract, his arbitration number for 2026 likely would have been a minimal raise because of the lack of volume due to the injury.

His free agency, however, led to significant interest among teams — and a big raise in 2026. Sandoval will make $5.5 million in 2025 and $12.75 million in 2026, sources said.

Sandoval illustrated his ceiling in 2022, when he posted a 2.91 ERA over 27 starts, throwing 148⅔ innings, striking out 151 and walking 60. He followed with 28 starts and a 4.11 ERA in 2023 but struggled last season with a 5.08 ERA in 16 starts before needing the surgery for elbow ligament replacement.

Boston, seeking starting pitching help this winter, swung a trade for ace Garrett Crochet with the Chicago White Sox. Like Sandoval, he will hit free agency again after 2026. Others in the Red Sox’s rotation mix next season include right-handers Tanner Houck, Lucas Giolito, Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford.

Also invited to spring training are catcher Seby Zavala, infielder/outfielder Nate Eaton and righties Isaiah Campbell, Bryan Mata and Wyatt Mills. Mata was Boston’s top pitching prospect before missing most of 2023 with an injury.

Willy Adames Agrees to 7-Year, $182 Million Contract with San Francisco Giants

Posted on December 7, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

Willy Adames has $182 million reasons to smile…

The 29-year-old Dominican professional baseball shortstop has agreed to a seven-year, $182 million contract with the San Francisco Giants, the largest outlay in franchise history, per ESPN.

Adames was the Giants’ top target this winter.

With the best free agent on the market, Juan Soto, likely to choose his team in the next 48 hours, San Francisco struck a deal with Adames, who was also being considered by teams in the running for Soto.

Adames has been a consistent presence in the middle of the Milwaukee Brewers‘ lineup for the past four seasons after arriving in a trade from the Tampa Bay Rays.

Adames’ 30-homer power is rare for a shortstop and the Giants have struggled to find a replacement for Brandon Crawford, who manned the position for 13 seasons.

The deal, which is pending a physical, breaks the franchise-record $167 million given to catcher Buster Posey, who is in his first year as the Giants’ president of baseball operations. It will include a $22 million signing bonus, according to sources.

Adames had career highs in home runs (32), RBIs (112) and stolen bases (21) in 2024 while finishing fifth in FanGraphs wins above replacement among shortstops. Adames also tied the major league record for most three-run home runs in a single season with 13, helping the Brewers to the National League Central title.

Other teams were considering using Adames as a third baseman, but the Giants will hope his glove continues to match his offensive output. Over his seven-year career, Adames has slashed .248/.322/.444 with 150 home runs, 472 RBIs and 51 stolen bases.

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