James Spangler

Errol Spence will defend his WBC and IBF welterweight titles against Manny Pacquiao on Aug. 21 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, fight officials confirmed Wednesday. Spence-Pacquiao was headed to Las Vegas but a venue wasn’t finalized until Wednesday. Spence vs Pacquiao This is Spence’s (27-0, 21 KOs) first bout since earning a unanimous decision victory over Danny Garcia at AT&T Stadium on Dec. 5. Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) hasn’t fought since 2019 when he defeated Keith Thurman by split decision. This is the fight you dream about. A fight you need to define your legacy. Pacquiao announced the fight May 21 on social media. A venue hasn’t been finalized, but this is one of the more anticipated fights of the year. For Pacquiao, his legacy is secure. A Hall of Fame ceremony awaits him in upstate New York when he decides to retire. Spence needs this. Wants this. Is all about this. This is a career-defining fight for the DeSoto welterweight who holds the WBC and IBF belts. Spence has sought accreditation against bigger opponents in the welterweight division only to be denied. Terence Crawford, the WBO champion and a man considered his equal, has attended some of Spence’s fights but for whatever reason can’t get into the ring with him. Pacquiao vs Spence tickets Canelo Alvarez, the WBO, WBA and WBC 168-pound champion, is the current pay-per-view box office king. An indoor boxing record crowd of 73,126 came to AT&T Stadium to see him fight May 8. Spence would like to fight him, but Alvarez is interested in unifying the 168-pound division against a fighter with little name recognition (Caleb Plant). So Spence, 31, does the next best thing and fights Pacquiao, the last of the great fighters, still going strong at 42. Pacquiao last fought in 2019, knocking off talented Keith Thurman to win the WBA welterweight title. Thurman, almost 10 years younger than Pacquiao, had a chance to send the old man into retirement only to lose by split decision. For months, Spence sought Pacquiao with the understanding that by beating him his career would reach another level. The time to elevate his career is now for Spence, and he’s picked the perfect opponent to do it. “I think I’m excited,” Spence trainer Derrick James said. “This is a legacy fight for Errol. This is beautiful for his career. Being a Dallas kid, we don’t remember (Hall of Famer) Curtis Cokes but this is a big fight for a local fighter. Few fighters have been fighting at the (high) level of competition like Pacquiao. Pac is like (Bernard Hopkins), a 50-year old beating 20 somethings. You can’t take him soft. You got to focus.” Spence Pacquiao date Spence wins this fight, he probably sends Pacquiao into retirement, even though there’s no such thing as that anymore in boxing. A victory also means is there are no more excuses for Crawford avoiding Spence. Alvarez would also be placed on noticed that a mega fight with Spence should occur. It’s something to ponder in 2022. The time to elevate your career is now for Spence and he’s picked the perfect opponent to do it.

The British & Irish Lions 2021 will play a pre-tour match against Japan in Edinburgh followed by eight matches in South Africa, including three Tests against the Springboks. The Test against Japan, on Saturday 26 June at BT Murrayfield, will be broadcast live on Channel 4 – the first time there has been live coverage of a Lions match on terrestrial television since the 1993 tour to New Zealand. Lions tour 2021 date All eight matches in South Africa will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, who have had the rights to show the last six tours. The three Tests take place on successive Saturdays on 24 July, 31 July and 7 August. Lions managing director Ben Calveley said: “We are delighted that Channel 4 are our broadcast partners for our first match on home soil since 2005. “I am looking forward to the excellent coverage and analysis that Channel 4 will no doubt provide and going on the recent squad announcement I’m sure the interest and numbers tuning in will be considerable for this clash.” Radio commentary of all nine Lions matches will also be broadcast live on talkSPORT, whose commentary team includes World Cup winners Bryan Habana (South Africa) and Ben Kay (England), former Ireland and Lions wing Tommy Bowe as well as legendary Lions coach Sir Ian McGeechan. Former British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton believes Warren Gatland can cement his legacy in South Africa. After leading the squad to a series victory in Australia eight years ago and a draw against New Zealand in 2017, Gatland completes the set against the Springboks this summer. "Even now he is probably the most successful Lions head coach with two undefeated tours," said Warburton. Irish Lions tv coverage "To do three would see him cement himself as an icon of Lions rugby." Warburton was Lions captain for the past two tours under Gatland. "He is already a Lions great but to have three unbeaten Test tours under his belt would be tough to beat and a record that would probably stand for a long time," added Warburton. Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones has taken over as skipper and Warburton believes the second-row is the perfect person to navigate the side through a tour like no other. The 37-man squad will have to prosper in its own bubble for almost two months with no travelling fans because of Covid-19. british irish lions live Jones has 148 caps for Wales and played in nine Lions Tests on the last three tours before being handed the permanent captaincy.

The pools for the final Tokyo 2020 Olympics qualifying tournament in rugby sevens, the World Rugby Sevens Repechage, have been drawn ahead of the competition taking place next month in Monaco. Rugby 7s Olympics stream Scheduled to take place on June 19 and 20, the repechage tournament will qualify two women's and one men's team for the Games. The draw was held at the Hotel Hermitage and featured World Rugby vice-chairman Bernard Laporte, Prince Albert II and Monegasque Rugby Union chairman Gareth Wittstock. In Pool A of the women's tournament will be Russia, Argentina, Mexico and Samoa, while Papua New Guinea, Kazakhstan, Jamaica and Tunisia will compete in Group B. Russia, who have qualified for all three Rugby World Cup Sevens tournaments to date, will be the firm favourites in their pool, and highest-ranked Papua New Guinea will look to continue the form that saw them qualify for their first World Cup in 2018. Rio 2016 Olympic teams France and Colombia have both been drawn in a tough Pool C. France made the quarter-finals at the last Games and in 2018, were runners-up at the World Cup. Hong Kong and Madagascar will be drawn in Pool C too. The top two teams in the three pools, plus the two third-placed teams with the highest points totals will qualify for the knockout stages, with teams needing to then win two matches to book their spot in Tokyo.