19 h. ago Terence Crawford: from a bullet’s glancing blow to boxing’s biggest stage

From an Omaha gym to a Las Vegas stadium, Terence Crawford has built a career solving problems others can’t. Now he must out-think size, history and Canelo ÁlvarezTerence ‘Bud’ Crawford, America’s finest boxer since Floyd Mayweather Jr, has spent his life closing the distance between the improbable and the inevitable. He was the kid from North Omaha who survived a bullet to the head and poured himself into neighborhood gym. He was the stubborn amateur who missed the Olympics but kept showing up in dingy basements until the craft became second nature. He was the icy technician and ruthless finisher, denied opportunities against name-brand fighters for most of his career, who unified the fractured world championship at 140lb, then did it again at 147 by dismantling Errol Spence Jr so comprehensively that it felt like a curtain being ripped back. Here, at last, was the full measure of the quiet man’s design.Now, at 37, undefeated in 41 professional fights with 31 wins by knockout, he’s...

Politics

4 d. ago Carlos Alcaraz powers past Jannik Sinner in four sets to win US Open

Spaniard wins final 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4Alcaraz new world No 1 after victoryWhen Carlos Alcaraz is fully focused and his impossibly complete game is in full flow, nothing in the world can stop him. As he has spent the early years of his career collecting major titles at a breathless pace, this has been clear for a long time. On the biggest stage in tennis, he reinforced the sentiment with a stupendous performance against his greatest rival, completely outplaying Jannik Sinner, the No 1 and defending champion, to lift his second US Open title with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 win.At the end of the most spectacular summer of his career, Alcaraz will replace Sinner as world No 1, returning to the top ranking for the first time in two years. The 22-year-old also continues to mark himself as one of the greatest ever young players: he is the second-youngest man in the Open era to earn six grand slam titles, trailing only Björn Borg. He is also already the fourth man to win multiple grand slam title...

Politics

7 d. ago 3 major Scotland selection dilemmas facing Steve Clarke as road to World Cup starts with huge Denmark test

The Dark Blues begin their quest to join the global superstars on the biggest stage in world football

Politics

7 d. ago Who will win Denmark vs Scotland? Our writers deliver predictions for huge World Cup qualifying opener

The journey to the biggest stage in world football starts here and the Tartan Army are desperate to be part of the party

Politics

8 d. ago How to save your England career after a nightmare debut: Those who suffered on the biggest stage reveal their hellish experiences of a start like Sonny Baker's

RICHARD GIBSON: On multiple occasions during South Africa's onslaught at, Baker would have been forgiven for wishing himself away to anywhere other than the end of his bowling mark.

Politics

1 week ago Naomi Osaka dominates Coco Gauff to power into US Open quarter

Four-times grand-slam champion wins 6-3, 6-2Osaka has always won title after reaching last eightNaomi Osaka turned back the clock on Monday in New York, producing the cleanest big‑stage performance of her comeback from maternity leave to overwhelm Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-2 in a blockbuster fourth-round meeting inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.In front of a packed 23,771-seat arena, the two crossover stars – who between them own three of the past seven US Open championships – reprised a rivalry that began with their famous encounter here in 2019. This time there were no tears, no consolations, only the sight of a four‑times major champion dictating terms again on the sport’s biggest stage. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Paddy Pimblett has 'knocked down door' for Next Generation in the UFC

UFC ULTIMATE INSIDER COLUMN: Lightweight contender Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett has led the way for a Liverpool gym as his team-mates look to make their own impact on the biggest stage in MMA

Politics

2 w. ago The three Celtic parties to blame for catastrophic £40m failure but one man stands alone

It was another miserable night for the Scottish champions on Europe’s biggest stage and the flak is flying

Economics

2 w. ago Do heatwaves, wildfires and travel costs signal the end of the holiday abroad?

Leading researcher forecasts ‘beginning of the age of non-tourism’ despite industry returning to pre-pandemic highsIt was a prediction nobody wanted to hear. On the main stage of the world’s biggest tourism fair, Stefan Gössling, a leading researcher in sustainable transport, had just calmly announced the looming death of the holiday industry.“We have already entered the beginning of the age of non-tourism,” said Gössling, to an uneasy audience of travel agencies, car rental companies, cruise operators and hoteliers. Continue reading...

Events

4 w. ago Global music icon announced as huge headliner for Manchester Pride

This year's event will feature some new additions and tweaks to previous years, with the inclusion of new stage areas which will host some of the biggest names in music

Politics

last month Women's Rugby World Cup 2025: Six players to watch as globe's best battle for glory

England have home advantage on biggest stage

Sport