Al Hilal in Advanced Talks with AC Milan for Theo Hernández 

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.

Theo Hernández

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

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.

Gabriela Fundora, 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

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.

Emanuel NavarreteNavarrete, 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 

Adalberto Carrasquilla may be switching sides and countries…

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

Adalberto CarrasquillaAn 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

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.

Patrick Sandoval,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 CampbellBryan 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

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.

Willy Adames,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.

Neymar Reportedly ThisClose to Return One Year After Shock Injury

Neymar may be getting back in the game soon…

The 32-year-old Brazilian professional footballer, who plays as a forward for Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal and the Brazil national team, has made significant improvement on his knee recovery and could be fit to play on October 21, per ESPN sources.

NeymarNeymar has been sidelined for a year since sustaining a torn ACL and meniscus in his left knee while on international duty with Brazil.

Neymar returned to train with Al Hilal on September 29. People closely monitoring Neymar’s progress believe the player could return to play in time for Al Hilal’s Asian Champions League game at Al Ain on October 21.

Al Hilal coach Jorge Jesus will have the final say on when Neymar will return to action.

However, he’ll first need the approval of Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar, who carried out Neymar’s surgery.

Lasmar is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia in the coming days to evaluate the player’s fitness.

Neymar, who is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer, joined the Saudi Pro League side in August 2023 from Paris Saint-Germain but played just five games before getting hurt.

Brazil’s Football Confederation is monitoring the situation closely and is hopeful of having Neymar available in time for the November World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Uruguay.

Emanuel Navarrete to Fight Oscar Valdez in a Rematch in December

Emanuel Navarrete is preparing for a rematch…

The 29-year-old Mexican professional boxer will fight Oscar Valdez on December 7 in Phoenix, per ESPN sources.

Emanuel NavarreteNavarrete dominated Valdez in an August 2023 fight that didn’t beg for a rematch.

Navarrete (38-2-1, 31 KOs) will return to 130 pounds for his third defense of the WBO junior lightweight title.

Hailing from Mexico, he moved up to 135 pounds for a May title fight vs. Denys Berinchyk but dropped a split decision in a lackluster performance.

Navarrete was attempting to become a four-division champion. Prior to the loss, his previous fight was a November draw with Robson Conceicao.

Navarrete’s most recent win came via unanimous decision over Valdez.

Valdez (32-2, 24 KOs) has competed once since the lopsided loss to his countryman, a seventh-round TKO over Liam Wilson in March.

Valdez, 33, is a former 126- and 130-pound titleholder. He’s ESPN’s No. 4 junior lightweight while Navarrete is No. 1.

Brandon Figueroa to Fight Stephen Fulton in Featherweight Rematch This December

Brandon Figueroa is heading back to the ring this December…

The 27-year-old Mexican American professional boxer will meet Stephen Fulton in a featherweight rematch on the December 14 Gervonta DavisLamont Roach undercard in Houston, per ESPN sources.

Brandon Figueroa When they fought in November 2021, Fulton defeated Figueroa via majority decision in one of the best fights of the year.

That was a 122-pound title unification where both boxers entered the ring as champions. In the aftermath of his loss, Figueroa was adamant the decision was a “robbery.”

Three years later, they’ll meet at 126 pounds as former champions.

Fulton (22-1, 8 KOs) has fought three times since. The 30-year-old from Philadelphia moved up to 126 pounds last month to fight Carlos Castro. He was dropped in Round 5 but emerged with a split-decision victory.

That was Fulton’s first bout since his Round 8 TKO loss last summer in a title unification with Naoya Inoue in Tokyo. Fulton is ESPN’s No. 9 featherweight.

Figueroa (25-1-1, 19 KOs) is ESPN’s No. 4 boxer at 126 pounds. He also competed three times since his loss to Fulton, all of them at 122 pounds.

Figueroa defeated Castro by TKO in Round 6 of their July 2022 fight and also outpointed Mark Magsayo.

Figueroa has held the WBC interim featherweight title since March 2023 and previously the WBC super bantamweight title in 2021 and the WBA super bantamweight title from 2019 to 2021.

David Benavidez to Fight David Morrell in Early 2025

David Benavidez has locked in his next opponent…

The 27-year-old Mexican & Ecuadorian American boxer will meet David Morrell in a high-stakes light heavyweight bout, Benavidez announced on social media.

David BenavidezThe 175-pound bout will headline a PBC pay-per-view card and is expected to take place on January 25 in Las Vegas, per ESPN sources.

Benavidez (29-0, 24 KOs) was in talks to fight fringe contender Jesse Hart on December 14 on the undercard of the Gervonta DavisLamont Roach title bout, according to sources, but he secured a far more compelling bout.

Benavidez has chased boxing’s top star, Canelo Álvarez, for years. Álvarez hasn’t shown any interest in such a matchup, so Benavidez made the jump from 168 to 175 pounds this summer with a decision win over Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

Benavidez, who fights out of Miami, is a former two-time titleholder at 168 pounds. He’s rated No. 3 at 175 pounds.

Now, Benavidez is prepared for the toughest test of his career.

Cuba’s Morrell (11-0, 9 KOs) also made the move to light heavyweight this summer. He encountered the most-challenging fight of his career with a unanimous decision over Radivoje Kalajdzic in August.

Morrell, 26, is ESPN’s No. 4 light heavyweight. ESPN’s top two 175-pounders, Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol, fight Saturday on ESPN+ for the undisputed light heavyweight championship.

The winner of Benavidez-Morrell will be positioned for a fight with the winner.