After a shock defeat by Andy Ruiz Jr, Anthony Joshua is ready for a rematch which looks set to take place in New York in November or Cardiff in December.
Joshua, 29, lost his IBF, WBA and WBO world titles to Ruiz in New York on June 1 and invoked his contractual right to a rematch.
The dates that have been fixed are at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 14 or a return to Madison Square Garden on November 29.
A west coast city in the US has also made a late offer to stage the contest and two other unnamed countries have also bid for the fight.
The offers put forward in the late bids seems lucrative enough to merit discussions, though there is speculation the countries in question do not hold a substantial track record in staging high-profile boxing events.
Joshua’s team were keen to finalize a date for the bout last week but the offers from new countries have delayed them in confirming Cardiff or New York.
Cardiff is the only UK option because the Principality Stadium can offer a roof along with a large capacity during a British winter but Joshua is said to be keen on a return to Madison Square Garden, where his US debut was wrecked by Ruiz in one of heavyweight boxing’s biggest shocks.
American Ruiz, who fights under a Mexican flag as a result of his heritage, voiced his preferred venue to be Los Angeles or Mexico.
The 29-year-old’s comments and delays in confirming the rematch has led to speculation that the negotiations have stalled or the champion was contemplating trying to avoid Joshua.
But Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has said Ruiz would face legal proceedings were he to pursue another path.
The Netherlands reached their first Women’s World Cup final after Manchester United midfielder Jackie Groenen’s sweet extra-time strike settled their cagey semi-final against Sweden.
The European champions will face holders the United States in Lyon on Sunday, after Jill Ellis’ side’s win over England.
The 48,452 fans inside the Stade de Lyon had looked set to endure a nervy penalty shootout, before Groenen’s crisp low shot sunk the Swedes’ hopes of reaching their second final.
Sweden, who were playing in their fourth semi-final after stunning Germany in the last eight, will now face England in Saturday’s third-place play-off in Nice.
Sari van Veenendaal had earlier kept the Dutch on level terms with three important saves, before Substitute Shanice van de Sanden’s fierce shot was then tipped wide by Hedvig Lindahl to send the game to extra time and the Dutch eventually found a way through.
The Netherlands’ achievement – reaching the final while competing in only their second Women’s World Cup – was greeted with emotional celebrations at the full-time whistle after a tense 120 minutes and their colourful fans danced with joy in the stands.
Ranked eighth in the world, they have enjoyed a rapid rise towards the top of the women’s game, two years after winning the Euros on home soil, and they have been backed by a lively, dancing horde of passionate fans all across France.
Sarina Wiegman’s side beat New Zealand 1-0, Cameroon 3-1 and Canada 2-1 to top Group E and reach the knockout stages for the second time.
A dramatic 2-1 win over Japan and a 2-0 quarter-final victory against Italy followed to put them into their first semi-final, and they narrowly overcame the Swedes in Lyon despite never really playing their best football.
Groenen’s winner saw the Scandinavians eliminated by the same side that knocked them out of the European Championship at the quarter-final stage in 2017.
The Swedes had impressive wins over highly rated Canada and Germany followed, as the Swedes threatened to match their 2003 run to the final, but instead it is the Dutch who will be the Women’s World Cup’s first European finalists since the Germans’ triumph in 2007.
The Netherlands are the eighth different team and fourth European nation to reach a Women’s World Cup final.
Argentina set up a tantalising Copa America semi-final against hosts Brazil after easing past Venezuela 2-0.
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero was involved in both goals as Argentina aim for their third straight final.
Aguero’s low drive was flicked in by Lautaro Martinez and goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez then spilled the striker’s shot for Giovani Lo Celso to tap home.
Venezuela created very little and Ronald Hernandez saw his shot from close range kept out by Franco Armani.
In fact, that was Venezuela’s only shot on target with River Plate goalkeeper Armani redundant for much of the game, though he did prove to be an effective aerial presence.
Lionel Scaloni’s side will play Brazil in Mineirao at 01:30 BST on Wednesday after the tournament hosts edged past Paraguay on penalties following a 0-0 draw.
Though he was largely quiet against Venezuela, captain Lionel Messi will take heart from knowing Argentina are one win away from another Copa America final.
They have been beaten on the past two occasions on penalties by Chile and lost in the final in four of the past five tournaments.
Argentina were the better side in a fragmented game not helped by Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan handing out six yellow cards and stopping play on a number of occasions to consult about incidents with the video assistant referee.
Inter Milan striker Martinez should have had two goals in the game, but struck the outside of the post in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, while substitute Angel di Maria curled straight at Farinez late on.
Brazil edged out Paraguay 4-0 on penalties in the other quarter-final match.
The Africa Cup of Nations draw takes place on Friday (19:00 BST), with several Premier League players waiting to discover their countries’ fate.
The tournament, which is in Egypt, is the biggest yet with 24 teams and the first to be held in Europe’s summer rather than January or February.
It will take place from 21 June to 19 July, meaning European-based players will not need to miss club games.
Cameroon are the defending champions, beating Egypt in the 2017 final.
Liverpool pair Mohamed Salah (Egypt) and Sadio Mane (Senegal), Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) and Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast) are among the Premier League stars expected to feature.
Teams have been separated into four seeding pots based on the Fifa world rankings released on 4 April. They will then be drawn into six groups of four.
Afcon draw pots
Pot 1
Pot 2
Pot 3
Pot 4
Egypt
DR Congo
South Africa
Zimbabwe
Cameroon
Ghana
Uganda
Namibia
Senegal
Mali
Benin
Guinea-Bissau
Tunisia
Ivory Coast
Mauritania
Angola
Nigeria
Guinea
Madagascar
Tanzania
Morocco
Algeria
Kenya
Burundi
The top two teams from each group, and four best third-placed teams, go into the quarter-finals.
Ten-man Real Madrid suffered a surprise defeat by Real Sociedad as the visitors earned their first victory at the Bernabeu in La Liga for 15 years.
Willian Jose fired Sociedad in front from the penalty spot in the third minute after Mikel Merino was fouled by Real Madrid’s Casemiro.
Things then got more difficult for Real Madrid when Lucas Vazquez was sent off with half an hour remaining.
Sociedad made the extra man count when Ruben Pardo headed in a late second.
The defeat leaves Real Madrid one point and one place outside the Champions League qualification spots in fifth, while Sociedad move up to 11th after ending a four-match losing streak in the league.
Willian Jose got the visitors off to a perfect start when he hammered his penalty high down the middle and it was from the former Real Madrid striker’s cross that Pardo nodded past goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with seven minutes to go.
Vazquez, who collected a second booking for a trip on Merino, went closest for the European champions as he hit the post from a cross before the break.
The hosts handed a first start in La Liga to Brazilian Vinicius Junior, with the 18-year-old becoming the first player to start for Real Madrid in the competition born in 2000 or later.
The lively forward curled narrowly wide after a clever run across the top of the box, and was then denied a penalty despite appearing to be fouled by Real Sociedad goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli – the video assistant referee opted not to intervene.
Rulli also kept out Raphael Varane’s close-range shot before denying Sergio Ramos twice in quick succession and palming away Vinicius’ side-footed volley.
Real Madrid were without Wales forward Gareth Bale because of a calf injury, while Spain midfielder Isco started among the substitutes.
Santiago Solari’s side have now failed to win in both their league matches since returning from their Club World Cup success in December.
With the New Year upon us, the transfer rumour mill is cranking back into action.
Whether chasing the title, aiming for promotion, or looking to avoid relegation, managers will be looking for their chairmen to pull out the chequebooks to sign the players who can make that crucial difference.
Paul Pogba, Isco and Adrien Rabiot are just some of the names being linked with a transfer.
BBC Sport takes a look at players who could be on the move in January.
Premier League
PAUL POGBA (25, midfielder, Manchester United)
Linked with: Juventus, Barcelona, Paris St-Germain.
The biggest name on our list. The world’s most expensive player at the time of joining Manchester United from Juventus for £89m in 2016, BBC Sport’s gossip column has been packed with reports that Pogba’s time at Old Trafford could end for the second time this January.
Dropped from the team in December, including against rivals Liverpool, the France World Cup winner has been of interest to former club Juventus amid reports of a £125m bid, with Barcelona and PSG also said to be circling.
But the departure of manager Jose Mourinho, with whom he had a fractured relationship, has lifted the gloom at Old Trafford and it remains to be seen whether a more liberated role in the side changes circumstances for Pogba or not.
DANNY DRINKWATER (28, midfielder, Chelsea)
Linked with: West Ham, Fulham.
Premier League winner Drinkwater’s move to Chelsea has not gone to plan – he even missed out on their Europa League squad. His only appearance this season came in the Community Shield loss to Manchester City and he has been told by manager Maurizio Sarri he can leave.
The 28-year-old former Leicester player would add some steel in the middle of the park, and a reunion with ex-Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri at Fulham is a possibility.
GARY CAHILL (33, defender, Chelsea)
Linked with: Arsenal, AC Milan, Aston Villa, Fulham.
Another Chelsea outcast who has failed to break into the team under Maurizio Sarri, Cahill is down the defensive pecking order at Stamford Bridge and has been told he too is free to go.
Possessing plenty of experience on the club and international stage, as well as a healthy looking trophy cabinet, Cahill would not be short of offers from top clubs in the Premier League, Championship and, perhaps more surprisingly, Serie A.
Elsewhere, Bayern Munich have reportedly made a £20m bid for Chelsea teenager Callum Hudson-Odoi, while team-mates Cesc Fabregas, Victor Moses and Andreas Christensen may also be on the way out.
BRAHIM DIAZ (19, midfielder, Manchester City)
Diaz is out of contract in the summer and is growing frustrated with limited first-team opportunities.
The Spain Under-21 international is one of the country’s brightest prospects and may follow in the footsteps of Jadon Sancho by trying his luck outside the Premier League.
Reports in Spain say La Liga giants Real Madrid have agreed a £13.6m deal, with the player to receive £60,000 a week in wages.
JERMAIN DEFOE (36, striker, Bournemouth)
Linked with: Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United, Wigan.
Former England international Defoe has found game time hard to come by this season, playing fewer than 30 minutes in the Premier League.
Seventh on the Premier League’s all-time top scorers list with 162 goals, Defoe is a proven finishers and could do a short-term job for a team in need of a striker, despite his advancing years.
Solanke, who has won one cap for England, is yet to make a first-team appearance for Liverpool this season, having failed to make the breakthrough expected of him.
Numerous Premier League sides are interested in a loan move and Solanke has also been linked to clubs in the Championship as well as outside England.
Also look out for whether goalkeeper Simon Mignolet stays at Anfield, with the Belgian firmly second choice behind summer signing Alisson.
ADRIEN SILVA (29, midfielder, Leicester)
Linked with: Sporting Lisbon.
What a farce this transfer has turned out to be for Leicester. The Foxes agreed to sign the midfielder for £22m on deadline day in the summer of 2017, but missed filing the paperwork by 14 seconds. He stayed at Sporting Lisbon and did not play until January.
But 12 months on from his debut and only 19 appearances later (three this season), Silva now seems to be heading back to his old club in Portugal.
TOM HEATON (32, goalkeeper, Burnley)
Linked with: Aston Villa, Leeds.
Having missed most of last season with a shoulder injury, Heaton’s number one spot at Turf Moor was taken by England international Nick Pope, and he fell further out of the reckoning after the signing of Joe Hart in the summer.
Though he has recently been restored to the starting line-up, Heaton may want more guaranteed game time, with Championship sides Aston Villa and Leeds interested.
STEVEN DAVIS (33, midfielder, Southampton)
Linked with: Rangers.
Despite Southampton’s struggles in the league, ex-captain Davis has barely featured this season. His luck has not changed under new manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, and the Northern Ireland international is likely to be allowed to leave in January.
A return to Rangers seems his most likely move, with manager Steven Gerrard recently calling Davis “a top player and a great guy”.
Niasse netted eight Premier League goals for Everton last season but has since been restricted to four substitute appearances in the league and has reportedly been made available for transfer by the Toffees.
Given Niasse was signed for about £13m in 2016, manager Marco Silva will have to accept a cut-price deal to sell the Senegal striker, who could provide Cardiff and Huddersfield with the firepower they need.
Team-mate James McCarthy has returned to full fitness after a double leg break and might also be allowed to leave on loan.
EFL
BRADLEY DACK (25, midfielder, Blackburn)
Linked with: West Ham, Crystal Palace.
Dack’s goalscoring exploits in the EFL have not gone unnoticed, and he has attracted interest from clubs in the Premier League.
The attacking midfielder scored 18 goals as Blackburn were promoted to the Championship last season and his form has continued in the second tier, with nine goals so far.
Former Oxford forward Roofe has been in superb form for Leeds this season, scoring 13 goals as Marcelo Bielsa’s side push for promotion to the Premier League.
A host of Premier League clubs are reportedly keen on bringing him in, while Serie A side Palermo have also been linked.
MAX AARONS (18, full-back, Norwich)
Linked with: Tottenham, RB Leipzig.
Despite only making his debut in August, Norwich teenager Aarons is regarded as one of the most exciting full-backs in the Championship.
The performances for the Canaries in his breakthrough season have brought attention from Premier League side Tottenham, who could make a £15m move, as well as Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig.
NEAL MAUPAY (22, forward, Brentford)
Linked with: Huddersfield.
Brentford may be battling at the wrong end of the Championship, but France youth international Maupay has been a shining light, with 14 goals and six assists this season.
With Huddersfield the lowest scorers in the top flight this season, Maupay could provide much-needed goals in a £10m move.
JARROD BOWEN (22, winger, Hull)
Linked with: Cardiff, Fulham, Leeds.
Another player performing well for a struggling team. Bowen was Hull players’ and supporters’ player of the year last season and has found the net eight times this campaign.
Would the winger fancy swapping Hull for clubs such as Cardiff or Fulham, who are finding life difficult in the top flight?
LLOYD KELLY (20, defender, Bristol City)
Linked with: Liverpool, Manchester United.
England youth international Kelly has been Bristol City’s standout performer in the Championship this season and is highly thought of at Ashton Gate.
Described by manager Lee Johnson as an “absolute beast”, the speedy Kelly may soon be in the top flight if his impressive performances continue.
From across the border
DEDRYCK BOYATA (28, defender, Celtic)
Linked with: Fulham.
Premier League strugglers Fulham had a bid for Belgium international Boyata rejected in the summer and, with the Cottagers shipping goals this season, they could come back in for the Celtic centre-back.
Boyata’s contract with the Scottish Premiership champions expires in the summer and they may look to cash in if a reasonable offer arrives in January.
JORDAN JONES (24, midfielder, Kilmarnock)
Linked with: Rangers, Swansea, Burnley.
Northern Ireland international Jones has played an integral role in Kilmarnock’s surprise challenge for the Scottish Premiership title.
Jones’ contract expires in the summer and Rangers could come back in for the player, having previously had a £350,000 offer rejected.
WES FODERINGHAM (27, goalkeeper, Rangers)
Linked with: Leeds.
Despite their long injury list, Leeds are in the mix for promotion back to the Premier League but are desperately in need of a back-up goalkeeper.
Should a move for Burnley’s Heaton not come off, Rangers number two Foderingham has reportedly been targeted as a potential signing.
Around Europe…
ISCO (26, midfielder, Real Madrid)
Linked with: Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal.
Spain international Isco has not been helped by the managerial changes at the Bernabeu and, after being a regular under Zinedine Zidane, has been a bit-part player under Santiago Solari.
Isco was booed by his own fans during the home Champions League loss by CSKA Moscow, and Chelsea are reportedly ready to make a hefty £70m offer.
ADRIEN RABIOT (23, midfielder, Paris St-Germain)
Linked with: Liverpool, Chelsea, Barcelona.
Frenchman Rabiot’s future with Ligue 1 champions PSG is in major doubt after reportedly refusing a number of new contract offers, with his current deal set to expire in the summer.
The 23-year-old has long been linked with a move to Liverpool, but Barcelona are frontrunners at the moment in what would be a bargain £4.5m deal.
MATTHIJS DE LIGT (19, defender, Ajax)
Linked with: Manchester City, Barcelona, Juventus.
Listed as a “wonderkid” on Football Manager, so he must be good? De Ligt is living up to the virtual hype by following in the footsteps of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Paul Pogba in claiming the Golden Ball award for the most promising under-21 player in Europe.
Captain of Ajax and already with 13 Netherlands caps, De Ligt, who is valued at £63m, has a bright future and looks set for a big-money move to one of Europe’s giant clubs.
CHRISTIAN PULISIC (20, winger, Borussia Dortmund)
Linked with: Liverpool, Chelsea.
A mixture of injury and the startling form of Sancho means USA international Pulisic has had to be content with a role off the bench in Borussia Dortmund’s rise to the top of the Bundesliga.
German football expert Raphael Honigstein told BBC Radio 5 live: “Pulisic has refused to renew his contract beyond 2020 and Dortmund know the summer is the latest that he will have to be sold.
“He is not a starter in the big games so if someone wants to bring the move forward (to January) with an extra 20m euros, Dortmund may decide it is not the worst thing.”
Former Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp reportedly wants to take him to Liverpool, and there is also interest from Chelsea.
TIMOTHY WEAH (18, striker, Paris St-Germain)
Son of Liberia president and former AC Milan and Paris St-Germain striker George Weah, Timothy broke into the PSG first team last season and has continued his development this term.
But a loan move away in January is a strong possibility, with Celtic reportedly the USA international’s preferred choice. Ligue 1 strugglers Amiens have also made contact.
TANGUY NDOMBELE (22, midfielder, Lyon)
Linked with: Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham.
Energetic box-to-box midfielder Ndombele has helped Lyon into the last 16 of the Champions League and also made his France debut this season.
French football journalist Julien Laurens said Ndombele has been a “revelation” since joining from Amiens last summer, but an eye-watering £90m may be needed to secure his signature.
ANDREAS SAMARIS (29, midfielder, Benfica)
Linked with: Newcastle.
Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez enquired about Greece international Samaris in the summer but was put off by the £10m asking price.
With the midfielder’s contract expiring at the end of the season, Benitez is reportedly looking at trying to sign him for a much lower fee.
NICOLAS PEPE (23, winger, Lille)
Linked with: Arsenal, Tottenham, Barcelona.
Ivory Coast international Pepe has caught the eye of high-profile clubs after an impressive 25 goals and nine assists in 55 league games since joining Lille in 2017.
With Pepe valued at about £45m, Unai Emery’s Arsenal are said to be leading the race to sign the winger.
And one from MLS…
MIGUEL ALMIRON (24, midfielder, Atlanta United)
Linked with: Newcastle, Arsenal.
Paraguay international Almiron has made a stunning impact for Atlanta since signing from Argentine side Lanus in 2016, with 12 goals and 13 assists in the league and leading them to MLS Cup glory in their second season in the competition.
Described as “pacy, with a terrific left foot”, a big-money move – for as much as £25m – to the Premier League with Newcastle or Arsenal could happen in January.
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City have to “accept” that title rivals Liverpool could be the “best team in the world right now”.
Defending champions City, who beat Southampton 3-1 on Sunday, go into Thursday’s home game against Liverpool seven points adrift of the Reds.
“The problem is the other team is fantastic,” Guardiola told BBC Sport.
“[Liverpool are] maybe the best team in Europe or the world right now and in top form.”
While City have suffered defeats against Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Leicester in December, Liverpool have won all seven league games they have played.
They ended 2018 in style, beating Arsenal 5-1 at Anfield to briefly go 10 points clear of City.
Speaking about Liverpool’s ability, Guardiola added: “You have to accept it. All we can do is do our job, play our games and after that we will see.”
In addition to their dominant position in the league, Liverpool have a recent edge over City because they knocked the Blues out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals last season.
If the Reds were to win on Thursday, they would restore their 10-point cushion and become heavy favourites to win a first league title since 1990.
City captain Vincent Kompany said the game against the league leaders is the type of match “you live for”.
“Our pride has been hurt over recent weeks but we have everything to play for. It depends on us,” Kompany told Sky Sports.
“Every living soul that comes into the stadium has to be ready to fight and give it to them [Liverpool], and we should be able to pull everything out of the locker for that game.”
Tennis greats Roger Federer and Serena Williams will meet on court for the first time when Switzerland face the USA in the Hopman Cup on Tuesday.
They will play in men’s and women’s singles rubbers before meeting in the mixed doubles alongside partners Belinda Bencic and Frances Tiafoe.
Federer and Williams, both 37, have won a combined 43 Grand Slam titles.
“It is very exciting for both of us and I hope a lot of tennis fans tune in and watch it,” said Federer.
Williams said it was “like a dream come true”. She added: “I have been looking forward to it. This is so cool.”
The match has been described as the most anticipated contest involving a male and female player since the ‘Battle of the Sexes’ in 1973, when 39-time Grand Slam champion Billie Jean King beat former men’s world number one Bobby Riggs in straight sets.
Despite their concurrent careers, Federer said it would be an “exaggeration” to say he knew Williams well.
“I admire everything she’s done on and off the court, we are both fierce competitors and we always want to win,” he said.
“It is going to be one time, probably never again. She is one of the biggest champions in our sport ever – men and women combined – so it is great to be playing against her.”
The Hopman Cup comprises two singles and a mixed doubles match between nations in a round-robin format with two groups of four. The winners of each group will contest Saturday’s final.
Federer and Bencic beat Britain’s Cameron Norrie and Katie Boulter in their opening round-robin tie, while the USA lost to Greece on Monday despite Williams winning her singles tie.
Switzerland are the defending champions, Federer and Bencic having won the event in Perth in January 2018.
Meanwhile, organisers have announced that prize money at next month’s Australian Open will rise by 14% to AUS$62.5m (£34.5m).
There will be a 25% increase for those who lose in the first round: players who reach the main draw are now guaranteed at least AUS$75,000 (£41,400).
The singles’ champions will each take home $4.1m (£2.26m).
The total prize fund has increased by 89% over the past five years.
“We have a responsibility to improve the conditions for all the players, and ensure tennis offers a viable career path, and this means increasing prize money as well as easing the costs associated with playing the Australian Open,” said Australian Open chief Craig Tiley.
Floyd Mayweather needed just 140 seconds to beat Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in an exhibition boxing bout worth a reported $9m.
Former five-weight world champion Mayweather, 41, was smiling during the short-lived contest in Tokyo as he floored the 20-year-old three times.
The fight, scheduled for three three-minute rounds, ended with Nasukawa in tears as his team threw in the towel.
Despite his latest comeback, Mayweather said afterwards he was “still retired”.
“It was all about entertainment – we had a lot of fun,” said the American, who beat UFC’s Conor McGregor in a boxing match in August 2017. “They wanted this to happen in Japan, so I said ‘why not?'”
The fight was delayed by several hours, with rumours circulating on social media that Mayweather might not show up, and that organisers were struggling to locate him.
Then, during an “unscheduled intermission”, he promoted his Las Vegas strip club, urging people to go there to watch the event.
Both fighters were undefeated coming into the widely criticised contest, in which Mayweather had a 4kg (9lb) weight advantage.
And after beating Nasukawa, Mayweather insisted: “I’m still undefeated; Tenshin is still undefeated. Tenshin is a true champion and a hell of a fighter.”
Addressing the Japanese fighter, he added: “Hold your head up high.
“I want the fans around the world to support Tenshin, he’s a great guy and a great champion.”
The rules were very strictly defined with kickboxer Nasukawa reportedly facing a $5m fine if he aimed a kick at his older opponent.
There were no judges, with only a knockout or technical knockout considered a victory.
Before the fight, former light-welterweight world champion Amir Khan said the bout was a “joke” and was “hurting boxing”.
Mayweather also came out of retirement last year to beat McGregor in the Irishman’s first ever boxing match.
That fight was also criticised as a mismatch prior to one of the richest contests in boxing history, but afterwards BBC Radio 5 live boxing commentator Mike Costello said McGregor had “proved the doubters wrong”.