This did not look like the Golden State Warriors team NBA fans have come to know.

The Houston Rockets stole the will of the Warriors in Game 6 at the Chase Center in San Francisco, winning 115-107 and pushing back Golden State for the second consecutive time when the Rockets were facing elimination.

So, now, it’s the Warriors who must go on the road in a winner-take-all Game 7 against a young Houston team that is playing with extreme confidence. All the while, Golden State will try to avoid becoming the 14th team to blow a 3-1 series lead in the playoffs.

Credit the Rockets and coach Ime Udoka for unlocking several schematic advantages the Warriors simply cannot answer. For one, the double-big lineup that features centers Alperen Şengün and Steven Adams on the floor at the same time attacks the most glaring weakness the Warriors have — a lack of height and interior presence. For another, Houston has deployed its speed and athleticism to harass the Warriors on the ball, forcing turnovers and creating easy transition opportunities. Udoka has also sprinkled in a zone defense that Golden State has had a tough time solving.

But beyond that, the Warriors let themselves down with their effort and intensity. Multiple times Friday night, Golden State appeared lethargic, slow and — oddly — unmotivated or defeated.

When Golden State opted to intentionally foul Adams, a 46.2% free throw shooter, to put him on the line, the Warriors gave up two offensive rebounds to Şengün despite expecting Adams misses.

After the Warriors fought back to close the deficit to two points at the end of the third quarter, Golden State was slow to line up after the break, leading to a Fred VanVleet four-point play six seconds into the period. Golden State’s lack of effort spiraled, and it trickled into its offensive operation; the Warriors missed 15 of their first 16 shots in the fourth quarter, allowing the Rockets to build a 17-point lead in the period.

Although coach Steve Kerr said after the game that he did not think fatigue played any role in the loss, Golden State looked very much like a team with multiple aging veterans. And although he stopped short when asked about his team’s effort, Kerr instead pointed to that play at the beginning of the fourth.

“I didn’t like our first half with the turnovers — I think we had 10 — and that’s the key to the whole series, our ball security,” Kerr told reporters after the game. “And so (that) got us off to a rough start in the first half.

“With that said, we’re down two going into the fourth. I thought the key play was the four-point play to start the quarter. That’s on us as a staff. We’ve got to make sure they’re matched up. … That felt like a game-changing play because, like I said (it was) a two-point game and right where we need to be, despite not playing well and turning it over quite a bit.”

The Warriors had been impressive down the stretch after trading for Jimmy Butler in February. But another one of the team’s shortcomings has been the lack of offensive support Stephen Curry and Butler get at times from their teammates. Curry and Butler combined for 56 points; the next leading scorer was Moses Moody with 13.

Back in the 2016 NBA Finals, the Warriors held a 3-1 lead over LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Kerr was the coach and Curry was the star player. That Golden State team squandered the series lead and the Cavaliers took the championship in Game 7.

If the Warriors don’t ramp up their intensity and intention before Sunday, they may blow yet another 3-1 lead.

Defending MLS Cup champion LA Galaxy have yet to win a league game in 2025.
Vancouver Whitecaps defeat Inter Miami to reach Concacaf Champions Cup final.
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: MLS teams enter the competition for the Round of 32, starting May 6.

In a development nobody saw coming, the defending MLS Cup champion Los Angeles Galaxy are early season Wooden Spoon contenders.

After last week’s 4-2 loss at home to the Portland Timbers, the Galaxy continue on their puzzling start to the 2025 MLS season. They are winless through the season’s first 10 games, losing seven times. The Galaxy, who were undefeated at their home stadium of Dignity Health Park in Carson, California, during their title-winning 2024 season, already have lost four home games through the season’s first two months. Is it too soon to put coach Greg Vanney on the hot seat?

This week, the Galaxy will be part of Apple TV’s ‘Sunday Night Soccer’ showcase, visiting Sporting Kansas City, a team that resides just above the Galaxy in the Western Conference standings. This is not exactly a ‘days of yore’ showdown between two MLS O.G. clubs that have fallen on hard times.

MLS Matchday 11: What are this weekend’s games?

(All games available on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.)

Saturday, May 3

Atlanta United vs. Nashville SC, 2:45 p.m. ET (FOX)
Toronto FC vs. New England Revolution, 4:30 p.m. ET
Columbus Crew vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
D.C. United vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m. ET
Inter Miami CF vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. ET
CF Montréal vs. Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m. ET
Austin FC vs. Minnesota United FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
Chicago Fire FC vs. Orlando City SC, 8:30 p.m. ET
San Diego FC vs. FC Dallas, 9:15 p.m. ET (FS1)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Real Salt Lake, 9:30 p.m. ET
Los Angeles FC vs. Houston Dynamo FC, 10:30 p.m. ET
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Portland Timbers, 10:30 p.m. ET
Seattle Sounders FC vs. St. Louis City SC, 10:30 p.m. ET

Sunday, May 4

New York City FC vs. FC Cincinnati, 3 p.m. ET
Sporting Kansas City vs. LA Galaxy, 7 p.m. ET

MLS game of the week: Atlanta United vs. Nashville SC

Date and time: Saturday, 2:45 p.m. ET
TV/streaming info: MLS Season Pass, FOX

Speaking of coaches on the hot seat. Atlanta United is off to a disappointing start under coach Ronny Deila, who came into this gig having had previous success in the league, winning the 2021 MLS Cup with NYCFC. Yet, Atlanta has just two wins in 10 games, despite the offseason additions of Miguel Almirón — who helped the club win MLS Cup in 2018 — and Emmanuel Latte Lath — who was acquired at an MLS-record transfer fee.

Nashville SC is coming a 7-2 destruction of the Chicago Fire. That game featured a coaching matchup between former U.S. men’s national team gaffer Gregg Berhalter and ex-USMNT interim coach B.J. Callahan.

Where can you watch MLS games?

All Major League Soccer games air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. Some select games are available for free on Apple TV and viewers only need an Apple ID to watch.

In a major push to reach more viewers this season, Comcast Xfinity and DirecTV customers can subscribe and watch MLS Season Pass through the TV providers, while T-Mobile users will be able to access MLS Season Pass for free.

FOX Sports will air select games on linear television. This week, Atlanta United vs. Nashville SC airs on FOX and San Diego FC vs. FC Dallas airs on FS1.

Concacaf Champions Cup bracket

Here’s your 30-second read on the latest Concacaf Champions Cup happenings …

The Vancouver Whitecaps will face Liga MX’s Cruz Azul in the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup final on Sunday, June 1, after humbling Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in a two-leg rout.

Here are the semifinal results:

April 23: Tigres 1, Cruz Azul 1
April 24: Vancouver Whitecaps 2, Inter Miami 0
April 30: Vancouver Whitecaps 3, Inter Miami 1 (Vancouver wins, 5-1, on aggregate)
May 1: Cruz Azul 1, Tigres 0 (Cruz Azul wins, 2-1, on aggregate)

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: Round of 32 draw

Here are the Round of 32 matchups (all games on Paramount+):

Tuesday, May 6

D.C. United vs. Charleston Battery, 7 p.m. ET
North Carolina FC vs. Charlotte FC, 7 p.m. ET
Nashville SC vs. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, 8 p.m. ET
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC vs. New Yor Red Bulls, 9:30 p.m. ET
Tacoma Defiance vs. Portland Timbers, 10 p.m. ET

Wednesday, May 7

Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC vs. New York City FC, 7 p.m. ET
Rhode Island FC vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. ET
Louisville City FC vs. Minnesota United FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Philadelphia Union vs. Indy Eleven, 7:30 p.m. ET
Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Chicago Fire FC vs. Detroit City FC, 8 p.m. ET
St. Louis CITY FC vs. Union Omaha, 8 p.m. ET
FC Dallas vs. AV ALTA FC, 8 p.m. ET
Austin FC vs. El Paso Locomotive FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
Phoenix Rising FC vs. Houston Dynamo, 10 p.m. ET
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Sacramento Republic FC, 10:30 p.m. ET

Round of 32 teams by league:

➤ Major League Soccer (16): Austin FC, Charlotte FC, Chicago Fire FC, D.C. United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo FC, Minnesota United FC, Nashville SC, New England Revolution, New York City FC, New York Red Bulls, Orlando City SC, Philadelphia Union, Portland Timbers, San Jose Earthquakes, St. Louis City SC

➤ USL Championship (12): Charleston Battery, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, Detroit City FC, El Paso Locomotive FC, Indy Eleven, Louisville City FC, North Carolina FC, Phoenix Rising FC, Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Rhode Island FC, Sacramento Republic FC, Tampa Bay Rowdies

➤ USL League One (3): AV ALTA FC, Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, Union Omaha

➤ MLS NEXT Pro (1): Tacoma Defiance

MLS betting odds: Who is favorite to win 2025 championship?

According to the latest BetMGM odds, Inter Miami (+400) is the current favorite to win the 2025 league championship, followed by Vancouver Whitecaps (+700), Columbus Crew (+1100), FC Cincinnati (+1100), Los Angeles FC (+1600), Philadelphia Union (+1600) and Minnesota United FC (+1800).

MLS 2025 season key dates

May 6-7: U.S. Open Cup Round of 32: MLS teams enter the competition
May 14-18: Rivalry week
June 1: Concacaf Champions Cup final: Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Cruz Azul
June 14-July 13: Club World Cup
July 23: MLS All-Star Game, in Austin, Texas
July 29-Aug. 31: Leagues Cup
Oct. 18: Final day of regular season (MLS Decision Day)

MLS CUP: Ranking every Major League Soccer championship game

INDIANAPOLIS — Even though she wasn’t playing, Caitlin Clark made sure that her voice was heard in the Fever’s preseason opener against Washington on Saturday afternoon.

Clark, who was ruled out with a left leg injury, was a constant presence in the Fever’s huddles and on the sideline. She provided a unique perspective to the game, and even took some time to jaw with the refs when she disagreed with some calls.

She was still itching to play, Fever coach Stephanie White said.

‘When you’re not playing, it gives you a different perspective,’ White said. ‘And I felt like she did a really good job of that with her teammates. She did a really good job with that with us in the coaching staff, just different things that she’s seeing, you know, different pointers for us in terms of maybe even communication style. I thought she was, she was really engaged. And I felt like at one point she wanted to go back and put her uniform on and come out and play.’

Clark’s leg injury likely isn’t serious; she described it as a ‘little bit of tightness’ ahead of the game and went through warmups as normal with no visible brace on her leg. White said pregame that they were erring on the side of caution with Clark, prioritizing her long-term health over the short term of playing in the preseason.

It was especially important on a back to back. The Fever are heading to Iowa City, Iowa, to play the Brazilian National Team at Clark’s alma mater, the University of Iowa, on Sunday. And White hopes that Clark can be good to go in front of her hometown fans.

‘She had a lot of progress in the last 24 hours, and that was our goal,’ White said. ‘Our goal is to see how she progresses every day, so we’ll see what happens and see how she feels after the workouts that she went through today, and then hopefully she’ll be ready tomorrow.’

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Abdul Carter is still searching for a jersey number to wear with the New York Giants.

The No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft already had his overtures to wear Lawrence Taylor’s retired No. 56 jersey rebuffed by the Hall of Famer.

Another one of Carter’s top choice’s – the No. 11 jersey, retired in honor of two-time Super Bowl champion Phil Simms – is off the table as well.

Simms was originally open to letting Carter bring his jersey out of retirement, as he explained in an appearance on FanDuel TV.

‘I told some of my friends and people around me, ‘I’d let him have it in a second. Can you just help it a little and make it better?” Simms said. ‘I think it would be a lot of fun. It wouldn’t bother me.

Carter then responded to Simms’ clip and expressed an interest in wearing the No. 11 jersey, which he donned during his college days at Penn State.

‘It would be an HONOR,’ Carter wrote on social media.

But Carter’s hopes of wearing the No. 11 jersey were quickly quashed. Long-time New York Daily News writer Gary Myers reported Simms had told him he was ‘outvoted by his family’ in his consideration of allowing Carter to wear his number.

Simms had referenced in his appearance on FanDuel TV his family would have a say in his decision to potentially unretire the number. He hadn’t spoken to them about it before his appearance, though he noted his agent had said ‘don’t you dare give up that jersey number.’

Simms’ agent is getting his wish. As for Carter, he will go back to the drawing board, a process he joked about on social media before saying ‘it’s all love.’

‘Just wanna play football!’ Carter wrote.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, amid talks with Sen. Ted Cruz for bill, says Trump ‘has no power to attempt to rule by decree — especially to give handouts to the NCAA.’

WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump is giving ‘serious consideration’ to signing an executive order that would address payments to college athletes, a person familiar with the matter confirmed to USA TODAY on May 2.

The person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

Trump’s review of the matter comes in the wake of a conversation he had with former University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban on May 1, when Trump was in Tuscaloosa to speak at the university’s commencement ceremonies.

The order could potentially add oversight to name, image and likeness, or NIL, that has exploded across college athletics with few regulations, although how the order would address NIL was not immediately clear.

Saban has been critical of the current state of college sports, including at a roundtable event in Washington that was hosted by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in March 2024 as part of Cruz’s ongoing efforts to craft college-sports legislation that can pass Congress.

Saban said at the time that athletes’ “personal development” was being hindered by the combination of virtually unregulated opportunities for athletes to make money from NIL and their ability to transfer multiple times in their college careers. He also called for ‘rules that create some kind of competitive balance, which right now we don’t have in college athletics. It’s whoever wants to pay the most money, raise the most money, buy the most players is going to have the best opportunity to win. I don’t think that’s the spirit of college athletics.’

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, said he had a ‘great conversation’ with Trump on Air Force One about ‘the importance of establishing national standards for NIL’ during the president’s trip to his state.

‘College football is the heart and soul of America ‒ but it’s in danger if we don’t level the playing field,’ said Tuberville, a former football coach at Auburn University and other schools.

Trump’s potential entry into this area comes as lawyers for the plaintiffs, the NCAA and the Power Five conferences have been trying to revise one aspect of the proposed settlement of three athlete-compensation antitrust cases that U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken has said she is otherwise prepared to give final approval.

Under the arrangement, $2.8 billion in damages would be paid to current and former athletes — and their lawyers — over 10 years, and Division I schools would be able to start paying athletes directly for use of their NIL, subject to a per-school cap that would increase over time and be based on a percentage of certain athletics revenues. Athletes would continue to be allowed to have NIL deals with non-school entities, but any deals worth $600 or more would be subject to greater scrutiny than they are now.

While the proposed settlement would solve some problems for the NCAA and its conferences and schools, they have continued to lobby Congress for legislation that would, among other things, enshrine in federal law athletes’ NIL rights, preempt dozens of state laws that have been passed in connection with athletes’ NIL rights and give the NCAA a measure of legal protection against antitrust actions. This is where Trump could step in.

Trump instructed White House aides to begin studying what an order would look like, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., on the night of May 2, said in a statement to USA TODAY of Trump’s potential involvement: “College sports reform can only happen through Congressional legislation based on bipartisan negotiations that put college athletes first. The President is welcome to support Senate negotiations, but he has no power to attempt to rule by decree — especially to give handouts to the NCAA over the blood, sweat, and tears of players.”

One of the lead lawyers for the plaintiffs in the ongoing antitrust case, Steve Berman, in a statement to USA TODAY, blasted the prospect of Trump’s involvement in any way that would limit athletes.

“The president says he is the greatest business person ever,” Berman wrote. “Why would he do anything to limit the business deals students are negotiating for their NIL. He has been a benefit of the free market why not these young athletes[.]

“As for Saban what a hypocrite. He has been an opponent of NIL from the start while he made tens of millions off the backs of these athletes. Even [J]ustice Kavanaugh, one of (Trump’s) appointed judges, stated in his [A]lston decision that this was wrong.

“Trump should talk to coach (Jim) Harbaugh who is a fan of the burgeoning NIL market and not a fan of the system of coach exploitation that Saban benefited from[.]”

Berman was referencing Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s concurring opinion to the Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling in the Alston vs. NCAA antitrust case in which the high court ended the association’s limits on education-related benefits athletes can receive for playing college sports. Kavanaugh heavily criticized the NCAA’s limits on athletes’ compensation, writing, among other things: “The NCAA’s business model would be flatly illegal in almost any other industry in America.’

Harbaugh, now with the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, repeatedly advocated for greater compensation for college athletes during his nine seasons as the University of Michigan’s football coach.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Every morning this week, trainer John Shirreffs has taken Baeza out to the racetrack, preparing as if he would run in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. But Thursday morning, with fewer than 24 hours until the deadline, Baeza still did not have a spot in the starting gate. 

“He’s probably the second-best 3-year-old in America,” said Randy Moss, the NBC analyst and handicapper. “It would be a shame if he were to be excluded from the race.”

For Baeza, all’s well that ends well. The late Thursday afternoon scratch of Rodriguez opened up a spot in the field. 

But the reason Shirreffs and Baeza found themselves in this predicament to begin with can be summed up simply: Their home base is Southern California, which used to be arguably the most desirable racing circuit in the country but has now fallen behind states where casino gambling supplements purse money. 

So even though the Santa Anita Derby is a Grade 1 race offering a $500,000 purse, only five horses were entered, triggering a new Churchill Downs rule that reduces Derby qualification points for races with small fields. Under normal circumstances, Baeza’s second-place finish to Journalism would have gotten him in the Kentucky Derby field. Instead, this year, Shirreffs brought the horse to Churchill hoping someone would scratch before the Friday morning deadline. 

“I can’t really go there,” Shirreffs said Thursday when asked if he thought the point reduction was fair. “We knew going in that the points were being reduced, and I felt we needed to win the race.” 

Having a small field for a big race in California is not an outlier these days. The aforementioned Journalism, who will likely be the Derby favorite on Saturday, also had just four opponents on March 1 in the San Felipe Stakes and the Los Alamitos Futurity last December, a race where three of the five horses were trained by Bob Baffert.

The Santa Anita Oaks and Santa Maria Stakes, two premier races for fillies, also had just five entries. The Santa Anita Handicap, a historically important race for older horses, drew only eight this year. The Beholder Mile, a $300,000 Grade 1 race for fillies on grass, had six competitors.

Those are only a few data points, but they all point to something everyone in the industry understands to be true: In the nationwide competition to attract horses, Southern California is falling behind states that have managed to significantly boost purses through ties to other forms of gambling.

“Any time you’ve got a $140,000 maiden race (which are common in states like Kentucky or Arkansas) while you’re running for $100,000 in a graded stakes in California, there’s a huge disconnect there,” said Michael McCarthy, the trainer of Journalism, who bases his operation at Santa Anita. “In California, by and large, the gaming is controlled by the (Native Americans). And I think that’s a huge burden on racing. We just don’t get to share any of those funds.”

That reality for California racing, which is having a direct impact on the Kentucky Derby, is being watched closely on the nation’s other coast.

Gulfstream Park, much like Southern California, has long been a crucial piece of the sport’s economic picture because of its weather and proximity to the huge population centers in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Though some large stables race at Gulfstream year-round, New York-based trainers like Todd Pletcher will bring a large contingent of horses to Florida for the winter to prepare for races like the Kentucky Derby without having to dodge snowstorms. 

Since 2006, Gulfstream has run its racing operation in tandem with a casino on property that offers slot machines and other electronic table games. The gaming license was granted by the state with the help and support of the horse industry, as the deal called for 7.5 percent of the casino revenue to go directly into the purse fund and 0.75 percent into the state’s breeding program. 

But in January, a bill supported by the track’s ownership was filed in the Florida state legislature that would remove the requirement for live racing from the law that grants Gulfstream a casino license. 

This so-called attempt at “decoupling” is being viewed by horsemen with ties to Florida — and rightly so — as both a knife in the back and an existential threat to racing’s future in the state. In that scenario, if Gulfstream just decided to simply shut the track’s doors, expand its casino and use its valuable property in Hallandale Beach for more profitable commercial ventures, there wouldn’t be anything to stop them.

If it happened, Florida’s most prominent racetrack could end up in a similar situation as Santa Anita — or worse, imperiling an industry that supports an estimated 33,000 jobs in the state and more than $3 billion in economic activity. 

“We’re definitely concerned, and we’re definitely confused,” said Bill Mott, the trainer of Derby contender Sovereignty. “The horsemen were probably a big part of the racetrack to be able to get a casino in there, and I think if they’re trying to bail out on us, I don’t think that’s right. And I hope that the people that make the decisions stand up for us a little bit and at least make them run a certain amount of days per year.”

Last week, a version of the decoupling legislation that would allow for a five-year window to phase it in passed the Florida House of Representatives. It has not yet passed the Senate, and may not by the time the legislature’s session is scheduled to end on Friday.

Typically in Florida, if a bill isn’t signed into law by the end of a session, the process would have to start all over the following year. But with the state’s budget not yet complete, the session will go on longer, which means the decoupling fight could continue for a couple more months. 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signaled that he is against decoupling, but it’s unclear whether he would absolutely veto the legislation since the decoupling language is only part of a much broader gaming bill being proposed.

“Horse racing is going to do well over the next five to 10 years in states where the industry has a strong relationship with its legislature, and a legislature that understands the industry’s importance to the economics, traditions and heritage of those states,” said Damon Thayer, a former Kentucky state senator who is now advising a group called the Thoroughbred Racing Initiative that is fighting decoupling in Florida.

“If horse racing is going to continue to be a national sport, Florida is critical to that goal, and I believe that racing in some fashion in South Florida has to continue. Racing has to be alive and vibrant in a number of America’s greatest cities in order for us to be a national sport. That’s where we create new fans.”

The concerns about horse racing’s future in Florida and California have a common denominator: Both Santa Anita and Gulfstream are owned by the Stronach Group, a Canada-based company that at one time owned and operated a dozen other racetracks and has either closed or sold them off one by one. Among those transactions was the transfer of Pimlico, home of the Preakness, to the state of Maryland, which will renovate the track and make it the hub of the state’s racing industry. Stronach’s other Maryland racing asset, Laurel Park, is then expected to close and be redeveloped.

It has led many in the racing industry to conclude that Belinda Stronach, who got control over the company after a messy legal fight with her father that was settled in 2020, simply does not want to be in the horse racing business long-term on either coast.

“The biggest challenge in California is antipathy from Belinda Stronach toward the sport, antipathy from legislators in Sacramento and antipathy from the Native Americans (who control the casino industry),” Thayer said. “I don’t think any of them care about the future of horse racing in California, and if California racing is going to survive and thrive, particularly at Santa Anita, somebody in those groups is going to have to start to care.” 

The question, then, is what comes next? 

One potential scenario is that decoupling passes in Florida, racing in California continues to wither and the universe of viable racetracks continues to shrink with New York, Kentucky and Arkansas eventually becoming the only major racing circuits with big purses. 

Another scenario is even scarier: If Florida decouples, will other states where casino gaming or sports wagering help fund horse racing start to think about following the same model?

As popular as gambling on horse racing is — nationwide handle in April exceeded $873 million, including $104 million at Gulfstream — the numbers are on a downward trajectory year-over-year, and racetracks are quite expensive to operate.

If horse racing is forced to stand completely on its own and compete with other forms of gambling that are growing more pervasive and continually easier to access across the country, it’s just common sense that there will continue to be fewer racetracks and fewer horses to run at them. 

That’s why decoupling in Florida is so dangerous, and why a massive effort is being mounted to defeat it.  

“Gaming wouldn’t exist in a lot of these states if it weren’t for horse racing,” Thayer said. “And these partnerships work well in a number of states where the racing industry, the state government general funds and gaming companies all prosper due to a partnership. And I’m going to continue to vociferously push back on those who say it’s a subsidy because it’s not.”

Still, the reality of what decoupling might mean has motivated a number of groups to spring into action. Behind the scenes, the thought that Stronach might eventually just pull the plug on Gulfstream Park has brought powerful, wealthy people to the table to at least think about alternatives, including trying to buy the part of the property devoted to horse racing. 

Lonny Powell, the CEO and executive vice president of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Assocaition, said a nonprofit subsidiary of their organization holds a permit to build and operate a track in Marion County, near the heart of the state’s breeding industry in Ocala.

“We’ve got to think of all angles, understanding the fact that the Stronach Group does not want to be in racing in the big picture,” Powell said. “So knowing that, we have to prepare for a better model. But at least we have options. We have to think about the future, and we’re very optimistic and bullish on where we can take this industry.” 

Though the fact that one of the best California-based Derby hopefuls only got in the race due to the misfortune of another horse isn’t necessarily a straight line to the issues in Florida, it is a canary in the coal mine. What happens when some racetracks are supported by slots and other forms of gaming, while others aren’t?

It’s a pretty simple economics lesson. 

“We’re trying to protect the horsemen, to keep racing alive and keep it alive long-term,” said Tom Cannell, president of the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. “It’s hard for me to believe that racing in the winter down here would ever cease. But at one time there were three tracks down here. Things change in the world.

‘But you can’t just look at horse racing. You have to look at people who supply the grain, the vets, the farms that develop the horses. If this was a wheel, the spokes go in many directions. I think a lot of folks that aren’t around racing don’t understand the scope of what it does for the state. So we’re going to stay in the fight and hopefully find some way to keep it going for a long time.” 

The Dallas Stars have an advantage besides home-ice advantage when they host the Colorado Avalanche in Game 7 on Saturday night.

They have coach Peter DeBoer.

DeBoer has an 8-0 record in Game 7s. If the Stars win Saturday, he would set a record for most Game 7 victories by either a coach or a player. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, meanwhile, has never won a Game 7, going 0-3.

DeBoer is also 3-0 in playoff series against the Avalanche. Colorado has never won a Game 7 on the road since moving from Quebec in 1995.

USA TODAY Sports is providing live coverage as the Avalanche and Stars play in Game 7 to decide who will advance to the second round:

What time is Stars vs. Avalanche NHL playoff game?

Game 7 of the Avalanche-Star series is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET in Dallas.

How to watch Stars vs. Avalanche Game 7: TV, stream

Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: American Airlines Center (Dallas)
TV: ABC
Stream: Fubo, ESPN+

Stars vs. Avalanche Game 7 predictions

Jason Anderson – Avalanche 5, Stars 2: Colorado has created more of the chances throughout the series, and that has to add up to something. Expect a close one that sees Cale Makar dominate, with the Avs finally sealing the series with a late empty-netter.

Mike Brehm – Avalanche 5, Stars 3: DeBoer can’t stay perfect forever, right? I had the Avalanche winning the Stanley Cup and I have faith they can pull this one off against a Stars team still missing Jason Robertson and Miro Heiskanen. Just make sure you don’t give up a goal in the first nine seconds this time.

Jace Evans – Avalanche 4, Stars 3: I picked Avalanche in seven before the series and I’m sticking with it. The Avs have, on balance, been the better team this series, holding a 22-17 advantage in goals and a 214-167(!) edge in shots.

Hurricanes sign Frederik Andersen to extension

The Carolina Hurricanes signed goaltender Frederik Andersen to a one-year, $2.75 million contract extension on Saturday. He can earn performance bonuses for playing 35-plus games ($250,000) and 40-plus games ($250,000). If the Hurricanes reach the conference finals next season with him playing at least half of the team’s playoff games, he’d earn another $250,000.

MIAMI GARDENS, FL – McLaren’s Lando Norris won the Formula One Miami Grand Prix Sprint race on May 3, as the race weekend was affected by South Florida rain for the first time in its four-year history.

Norris, who won the Miami Grand Prix last year thanks to a safety car, took the lead after a double yellow flag was waved after two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin crashed out after being bumped by Racing Bull driver Liam Lawson on the 14th lap.

“Miami seems pretty good at the minute. I’m happy. The pace was still very good. … I would’ve preferred this would have happened tomorrow than today,” Norris said in light of winning again due to the safety car.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, the leader in the F1 Drivers’ standings, finished second. He had the fastest start on the grid when the race began, edging out 18-year-old Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, who started on pole, on the first turn to take the lead.

“Obviously disappointed to come out second, but that’s how it goes,” Piastri said after the Sprint.

“I’m so happy with that. It’s been a tough year so far, but I never thought it was going to rain in Miami. It’s the first time we’ve been on the track when it’s wet here,” Hamilton said.

Antonelli was forced off track by Piastri in the first turn, an unfortunate start after he became the youngest driver in F1 history to win pole in any race format one day earlier. He finished 10th.

Williams’ Alex Albon finished fourth, George Russell of Mercedes placed in fifth, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was sixth, Lawson was seventh, followed by Haas driver Oliver Bearman in eighth and Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda in ninth.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who won the first two Miami races in 2022 and 2023, dropped from fourth to finish 17th ahead of three drivers who crashed out due to a 10-second penalty for colliding into Antonelli while trying to exit the pit lane.

The Sprint race began after a 30-minute delay after pouring rain made for a soaking wet track for the cars.

It was a photogenic scene as rainwater clung around the tires before releasing into the air, leaving behind a wet trail of heavy mist and engine smoke. It didn’t stop fans from packing the grandstands, some wearing ponchos and others just braving the elements.

It was a wet nightmare for some of the drivers before the delay, too.

“The visibility is genuinely the worst I’ve ever had in a race car,” Piastri said during the formation lap before the delay.

Piastri also mentioned there was a “big pool” by Turn 10.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc couldn’t even line up on the grid, where he was slated to start sixth in the Sprint, after aquaplaning and crashing into the wall between Turns 9 and 10 running south of Hard Rock Stadium.

Leclerc’s right side was affected, flattening his front tire and destroying his rear, during the first lap he took around the track about an hour before the Sprint began.

“I’m so sorry,” Leclerc told his team over the radio. “Yeah I’m so sorry.”

Verstappen found himself off track in a runoff during the formation lap, and complained of visibility during the race.

Carlos Sainz, the former Ferrari drive now with Williams, found himself spun around between turns 14 and 15 under the Florida Turnpike shortly before the race ended.

Piastri still leads the Drivers’ standings after the Sprint with 106 points, followed by Norris (97), Verstappen (87), Russell (77) and LeClerc (47) in the Top 5. Only the Top 8 drivers earn points from Sprint race – eight points for first place, decreasing a point for each place that follows.

Welcome back to boxing, Ryan Garcia … with a nasty punch to the face.

Rolando “Rolly’’ Romero landed it – a hard left hook followed by another that knocked down Garcia in the second round. Romero rode the momentum to an upset victory by unanimous decision in their 12-round welterweight fight Friday night in New York’s iconic Times Square.

The judges scored it 115-112, 115-112, 118-110 in favor of Romero.

‘He fought a good fight,’ Garcia said during an in-ring interview on the DAZN livestream. ‘He caught me early. No excuses, man.’

Garcia, 26, returned to the ring after a one-year suspension for a failed drug test. The loss put in jeopardy a planned rematch with Devin Haney that was expected to take place in the fall.

Haney looked hesitant earlier in the night while beating Jose Ramirez by unanimous decision. Garcia also looked apprehensive, especially after the knockdown and getting his first sample of Romero’s power.

‘I just think that whole year took a lot off my body, physically and mentally,’ Garcia said. “I’m just happy that I made it to the ring and went 12 rounds.’

Car horns could during the early fights during an unprecedented event – a boxing show held on a temporary ring in Times Square.

The boxers arrived for fights by vehicles. Garcia pulled up in the Batmobile. But the only boxer who showed a flash of superpower was Romero, who improved to 17-2.

In the first of the three featured fights, Teofimo Lopez beat Arnold Barboza Jr. by unanimous decision. But Garcia’s loss could have the biggest impact.

In April 2024, he beat Haney by majority decision, but he failed a post-fight drug test. That turned the outcome into a no-contest and led to Garcia’s suspension that ended April 20 when his New York boxing license was reinstated.

But Garcia fell to 24-2. And now it’s unclear when or if he and Haney might fight each other again.

USA TODAY provided round-by-round coverage and highlights of all three main event fights in New York’s Times Square. Scroll below for all the action.

Who won Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero fight?

Rolando “Rolly’’ Romero landed the blows, knocking down Ryan Garcia in the second round on his way to a victory by unanimous decision Friday night in New York’s Times Square.

The judges scored it 115-112, 115-112, 118-110.

Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero round-by-round

RESULT: Rolly Romero def. Ryan Garcia unanimous decision.

Round 12: Garcia will need a knockout. Will there be any urgency? Romero firing jabs, and they get tangled up. More jabs. No sense of urgency from Garcia, who seems fearful of Romero’s power. Romero 116, Garcia 111.

Round 11: They’re pawing at each other with jabs. Then Romero lands a hard body shot, and Garcia still looks tentative. Romero lands another hard body shot. Garcia has felt the power, maybe a few too many times. Garcia lands a hard left to the body of Romero, who scarcely flinches. Romero 106, Garcia 102.

Round 10: Romero’s punches still look powerful. Garcia still looks cautious. A hook lands hard. Romero gets aggressive, and Garcia shows little resistance. Romero misses with a big right and staggers toward a corner. He lands a big right, and Garcia looks stymied. Romero 96, Garcia 93.

Round 9: Romero charges forward and lands body shots. Then connects with a hook. Romero coming alive. Romero showing impressive power as he chases after Garcia. Romero 86, Garcia 84.

Round 8: Romero looks to want to rough up Garcia – close the distance and street fight. Garcia may be waiting for his chance. He connects with a solid jab. Firing more jabs, but nothing else. Ref warns the fighters to stop holding. Romero lands a couple of punches as the round ends. Romero 76, Garcia 75.

Round 7: Again, it’s Romero’s body shots vs. Garcia’s lefts. The action has waned. Romero lands a hard right. Garcia looks full of hesitation as Romero lands a body shot. They get tied up, and Romero sneaks in a few light blows to the face. Garcia 66, Romero 66.

Round 6: Romero comes out more assertively, but Garcia answers with a left hook. The pair get tangled up and untangled by the ref. Tied up again before Romero delivers a shot to Garcia’s body. Garcia 57, Romero 56.

Round 5: Romero misses early, and Garcia lands a handful of punches early. Garcia capitalizes on an opening with a right. Garcia unleashes a left to the body. Garcia throwing but not taking any serious risks. Romero content to throw body shots. Garcia 48, Romero 46.

Round 4: Romero cautious. Likely looking for the opening that served him so well in Round 2. Garcia comes forward and throws the left. Romero throwing lefts to the body. Not sure anything is reaching the target. A flinch from Garcia. Bracing for another left hook from Romero? Garcia 38, Romero 37.

Round 3: Fighters at the center of the ring; neither backing away. Garcia lands a left, and Romero bullrushes him into the ropes. The ref intercedes. Action slows, with Garcia content to fire the jabs and hard lefts. Romero 28, Garcia 28.

Round 2: Romero nails Garcia with two hard lefts and drops Garcia!!! But Garcia is back up, and the fight resumes. He nails Romero with a left and another while barely avoiding a right from Romero. Garcia coming forward and lands a left. Garcia moving forward and throwing that left hook. Romero lands a hard overhand right. Garcia moving forward again and lands a left. Not backing away. Garcia lands another hook. Romero 19, Garcia 18.

Round 1: Ryan Garcia looks bigger than Rolly Romero. Garcia lands a crisp jab. More to come? Clearly an effective weapon, as he’s now landed a bushel of them. Romero trying to answer with jabs but struggling to reach Garcia. Romero looks tentative, but connects, lightly, with a left to the midsection. Garcia 10, Romero 9.

Ryan Garcia arrives in Times Square in style

Garcia did not take a Yellow Checker cab to the boxing ring. He pulled up in what looks like the Batmobile. Garcia was not driving the Batmobile. But looked content to be riding shotgun.

Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero up next

In the final bout of the night in New York’s Times Square, Ryan Garcia will take on Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero in a 12-round welterweight fight.

Devin Haney def. Jose Ramirez by unanimous decision

The scorecards showed Haney won the 12-round welterweight bout against Ramirez decisively. But the fight lacked sizzle.

The boxers landed a combined 110 punches, according to DAZN’s broadcast.

Haney flinched repeatedly when Ramirez got in close, but his opponent failed to land many punches. In the end, Haney’s quickness and hand speed served him well.

The judges scored it 119-109, 119-109, 118-110 for Haney, who improved to 32-0. The victory helped secure a likely rematch with Ryan Garcia.

Ramirez fell to 29-3.

Devin Haney vs. Jose Ramirez round-by-round

RESULT: Devin Haney def. Jose Ramirez by unanimous decision.

Round 12: Ramirez in need of a knockout, but it looks futile. Just lands a left to the body and fires a couple of shots as Haney darts away. Haney pot shotting. Mercifully, the fight comes to an end. Haney 119, Ramirez 109.

Round 11: Haney throws a big right. And misses. He needs to land a punch like that, if only to prove he’s equipped for a rematch with Garcia. Ramirez lands a right. Haney burning lots of calories, and outpunching Ramirez. Haney 109, Ramirez 100.

Round 10: Haney back to moving rather than standing his ground. The strategy likely is paying off on the scorecards, but this is not vintage Haney. Did Garcia retire vintage Haney? He eats two jabs. Ramirez corners Haney and scores, but Haney’s quickly on the move again. Haney 99, Ramirez 91.

Round 9: Ramirez attacks and lands a body shot. Attacks again and lands a right. Nothing that will stagger Haney, but he needs to land more punches. Haney lands a strong right and darts to his right rather than follow up. Ramirez chasing Haney, but eats a couple of punches when he gets too close. Haney 89, Ramirez 82.

Round 8: With all the moving, Haney treating Ramirez as if he’s a Hall of Famer. Then finally slows and throws. Lands. Haney opening up. Ramirez has no answers. Haney 79, Ramirez 73.

Round 7: With all this running, Haney is definitely getting in his steps. Ramirez lands a left and then eats a right counter. Haney landing more punches but taking few chances. Ramirez showing underwhelming ability to score. Haney 69, Ramirez 64.

Round 6: Ramirez opens with a left that grazes Haney. Hey, it’s progress. Haney stays on the move and quickly covers up at the sight of any punch. Ramirez bleeding from under his left eye, and he scores with a left. Haney responds with a combination, followed up with a solid body shot. Haney 59, Ramirez 55.

Round 5: Almost non-existent action here. Ramirez struggling to catch up to Haney, and Haney staying on the move without punching. Well, just like that, Haney lands a combination. Haney 49, Ramirez 46.

Round 4: Haney staying on the move, as if in fear of getting hit. Just when he seemed ready to assert himself, Haney backtracks. Not a dynamic fight, to say the least. Ramirez showing little ability to hit Haney with any authority. Haney 39, Ramirez 37.

Round 3: Haney’s corner has put tape over the uncooperative Velcro, according to DAZN’s Jim Lampley. Haney throwing more punches, but still looks tentative when Ramirez attacks – not often enough. Haney unleashes a hard left hook. Then lands a solid right. Ramirez looks mostly flat footed and slow. Haney 29, Ramirez 28.

Round 2: The Velcro strap still flapping on Haney’s right shoe. Haney finally fires a crisp left, but he’s still looking oddly tentative. The result of a year-long layoff or haunted by getting knocked down by Ryan Garcia three times? Nice left from Haney, and the good thing for him is Ramirez is doing very little. Haney lands a solid right as he comes alive. Ramirez 19, Haney 19.

Round 1: A muscular Devin Haney doesn’t look ready to flex them immediately. He backpedals in the opening moments. Jose Ramirez scores with a couple of lefts. Haney’s looking strangely tentative. Ramirez misses with an overhand right. Haney’s fists looked holstered. Velcro strap comes loose from Haney’s right shoe. Wardrobe malfunction? Ramirez 10, Haney 9.

Devin Haney vs. Jose Ramirez next on main card

Devin Haney will take on Jose Ramirez in a 12-round welterweight fight next in Times Square.

Teofimo Lopez def. Arnold Barboza Jr. by unanimous decision

Capitalizing on his hand speed and quickness, Lopez outclassed the previously undefeated Barboza and won the WBO super lightweight title. Lopez celebrated his victory with a backflip in the ring.

Lopez took a hard right early that left blood flowing from under his left eye, but he maintained control in the 12-round fight.

The judges scored it 116-112, 116-112, 118-110 for Lopez, who improved to 22-1.

Barboza suffered his first loss and fell to 32-1.

Teofimo Lopez vs. Arnold Barboza Jr. round-by-round

RESULT: Teofimo Lopez def. Arnold Barboza Jr. by unanimous decision.

Round 12: Lopez throws a flurry, then backs away. Doesn’t look willing to risk a decision in exchange for going for the KO. Barboza land two big shots, but Lopez responds. And talks a little trash as the fight comes to a close. Lopez 117, Barboza 111.

Round 11: Mike Tyson analysis on DAZN: ‘It’s a shutout, I think. I’ve never seen him look like this before. He’s improved as a fighter.’ More showboating from Lopez. Not so much punching. Barboza lands a nice right, followed by another one. Dancing’s not going to win this round. Lopez 107, Barboza 102.

Round 10: Barboza stalking and lands a right, but eats a punch in return. Lopez staying very active with his left hand. Lopez 98, Barboza 92

Round 9: Lopez keeping his distance, perhaps to protect his apparent advantage on the scorecard. Could the strategy backfire? Well, just like that, Lopez gets revved up. He pounds Barboza and shows off the footwork on defense again. Barboza fighting back but looks overmatched, especially by Lopez’s speed. Lopez 88, Barboza 83.

Round 8: Lopez leading with his left and throwing rights, too. Barboza landed the hardest punch of the fight, but he looks hesitant – less apt to attack than counterattack. Lopez drills Barboza with a solid body shot and starts showboating, dodging punches. Lopez 78, Barboza 74.

Round 7: Lopez not shaken up by those rights. He comes out firing. Barboza lands a punch but missed with two. Lopez cloes the gap and delivers a punch to Barboza’s midsection. Lopez showing impressive versatility. Lopez 68, Barboza 65.

Round 6: Lopez could be landing more punches but seems to be enjoying some preening and showboating as he works the ring. Oh, Lopez takes a big right! Barboza follows up with a second right. Lopez cut underneath his left eye. Lopez 58, Barboza 56.

Round 5: Lopez lands a left to the body and takes a counter left to the head. Barboza looks down but not out. Lopez capitalizing on his quickness and footspeed again. Barboza trying to measure the distance – too far – before he throws his punches. Lopez scores a hard right then lands a flurry of jabs. Lopez 48, Barboza 47.

Round 4: Lopez land a combination almost the moment the bell sounds. Lopez showing his quickness and footspeed now. An elusive target taking control. Barboza landing the occasional punch, but nearly enough to win a round. Barboza 38, Lopez 38.

Round 3: Lopez firing body shots and throws a hard right, too. Looks comfortable but has yet to press the action. Barboza responds with a straight right. Lopez lands a hard left and now showing more authority that include another hard right. Barboza 29, Lopez 28.

Round 2: Barboza has set up at the center of the ring, then charges after Lopez. Barboza lands a left and maybe gaining confidence. Barboza throws a solid right counter. Barboza 20, Lopez 18.

Round 1: Arnold Barboza Jr. and Teofimo Lopez both open with left jabs. Lopez throws a combination and Barboza paws back with the jab. Barboza steps forward and throws a combination. Lopez throws an overhand right, so hard he briefly loses his balance. Barboza lands a couple of crisp punches. He closes strong but eats a right hand too. Barboza 10, Lopez 9.

Teofimo Lopez vs. Arnold Barboza Jr. kick off main card

Teofimo Lopez will defend his WBO world super lightweight title in a 12-round bout against Arnold Barboza Jr. Friday night in the first of three fights on the main card.

Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero start time 

The three-fight main card is scheduled to start around 5:30 p.m. ET.

Where is Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero fight? 

The Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero fight will take place in New York’s iconic Times Square.

Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero main fight card

Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero, welterweight fight
Devin Haney vs. Jose Ramirez, welterweight fight
Teofimo Lopez (c) vs. Arnold Barboza, WBO junior welterweight title fight

How to watch Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero fight 

The entire fight card will be streamed on DAZN PPV.

Watch Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero with DAZN

Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero fight odds

All available odds are for moneyline bets (as of Thursday), according to BetMGM.

Main Card

Ryan Garcia (-900) vs. Rolando Romero (+500) welterweights
Devin Haney (-1100) vs. Jose Ramirez (+550) welterweights
Teofimo Lopez (-275) vs. Arnold Barboza (+190) WBO junior welterweight title

Reito Tsutsumi def. Levale Whittington by unanimous decision

Tsutsumi, a highly touted 22-year-old prospect from Japan, looked impressive in his pro debut.

He tattooed Whittington with hooks and uppercuts during a six-round featherweight bout. In the second round, he staggered Whittington, who managed to stay on his feet, thanks to some help from the ropes.

The referees scored it 60-54, 60-54, 58-56 in favor of Tsutsumi. Whittington, a 25-year-old from Chicago, fought gallantly but dropped to 1-3-1.

Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero live stream

The prelims and fight will be available for live stream on DAZN.

Ring card girls need not apply

During the opening two  fights, the ring card presenters included Snoop Dogg, Hulk Hogan and Deadpool. All imposters, as typically found walking the streets in Times Square.

Boxers, tip your drivers

Reito Tsutsumi of Japan arrived at the ring for his pro debut in a yellow taxi. So it goes during this unprecedented boxing event in Times Square. His opponent, Levale Whittington, arrived in a black SUV. No odds posted yet on whether Ryan Garcia will arrive in a pedicab.

FDNY prevails over NYPD

With car horns audible during the fight, James Gennari of the FDNY beat Joel Allen of the NYPD by unanimous decision in a three-round amateur fight. The bout marked the debut of the “ring view,’ compliments of a small camera worn on the ear of the referee. In this case, the left ear.

Mike Tyson on the set

Serving as a guest analyst, Tyson arrived sporting a flashy suit. Not what he wore when he was growing up in Brownsville. So far, he’s been pretty mild mannered. No threats to eat anyone’s children.

When asked if the boxers might get distracted by the sights and sounds in Times Square, Tyson said, “These are professional fighters, like I am. We’ve been handling pressure since we were a little kid.’’

Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero price

The Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero card is available for $59.99 but is also available for $89.99 via the DAZN Knockout Weekend Bundle that includes the Alvarez Vs. Scull card on Saturday, May 3.

Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero predictions

Sports Illustrated: Ryan Garcia

Apratim Banderjee writes: ‘Ryan Garcia can put his opponents out as he has shown time and again during his career. Apart from the power, Garcia’s speed is phenomenal. Meanwhile, Rolly Romero has nuke-like power and like Garcia, he can put anyone to sleep with a shot. That said, he might not be as technically gifted as Garcia. Romero’s chin, however, is questionable. His ability to take shots can be questioned and Romero has been brutally knocked out before. KingRy’ has a solid chin and can take what comes in his way. He can also serve it out good. Garcia might be able to take Romero’s offerings before landing his own finishing shots midway through the fight.’

Predict Em: Ryan Garcia

Loot Levinson writes: ‘I’m betting that the Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero fight goes under 6.5 completed rounds at -115 betting odds. You have two fighters with big firepower whose defensive abilities lag far behind their offensive prowess. Combine that with the urgency of Garcia and the style of Romero, and it seems a lot would need to go wrong for this to be a fight that goes into the latter rounds.’

Ryan Garcia record

Ryan Garcia has a record of 24-1, with 20 KOs. His most recent bout vs. Devin Haney on April 20, 2024 was ruled a no contest after Garcia failed a post-fight drug test that resulted in a one-year suspension.

Rolly Romero record

Rolly Romero comes into the bout with a a record of 16-2, with 13 KOs.

How much does Ryan Garcia weigh?

Ryan Garcia weighed in at 146.8 pounds for his fight against Rolly Romero.

How much does Rolly Romero weigh?

Rolly Romero weighed in at 146.6 pounds for his fight against Ryan Garcia.

Mike Tyson says he’ll be guest analyst

Mike Tyson announced on X he will be a guest analyst for the boxing show at Times Square. He certainly has the requisite stamina.

In September, while training for his fight against Jake Paul, Tyson provided commentary for “Cage Wars 67,” a mixed martial arts event Schenectady, N.Y. that lasted about four hours. Tyson stayed for the entire livestream and proved to be personable and entertaining.

Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero: Tale of the tape

Devin Haney vs. Jose Ramirez prediction

Forbes: Devin Haney

Trent Reinsmith writes, ‘Haney lost a lot of his shine against Garcia. Sure the fight was ruled a no contest after Garcia’s failed drug tests, but that doesn’t erase the fact that Haney was dropped three times in that fight. Look for him to make a statement against an opponent he should beat, even on Ramirez’s best day.

‘The betting pick is for Devin Haney to beat Jose Ramirez via decision.’

How much does Devin Haney weigh?

Devin Haney weighed in at 143 pounds. The limit was 144 pounds.

How much does Jose Ramirez weigh?

Jose Ramirez weighed in at 143.8 pounds. The limit was 144 pounds.

Devin Haney vs. Jose Ramirez fight records

Haney is 31-0-0 with 15 KOs. Ramirez is 29-2 with 18 KOs.

Teofimo Lopez vs. Arnold Barboza Jr. prediction

CBS Sports: Teofimo Lopez to win via decision (-130)

Brent Brookhouse writes, ‘Gambling on a Lopez fight is a terrifying prospect. At times, he utilizes his extreme talent to maximum effect. Other times, he squanders that talent and gets outworked by less talented fighters. Barboza is a good fighter and an upset is very much in play, especially if Lopez again shows an inability to cut off the ring and lets fits of inactivity happen as the rounds tick by. Barboza is a better fighter than George Kambosos, who upset Lopez in 2021. All that said, Lopez is the better fighter and should be expected to manage the victory. Lopez has scored one knockdown and one stoppage since 2020 and Barboza is a good enough fighter that he’s unlikely to get stopped.’

How much does Teofimo Lopez weigh?

Lopez weighed in at 139.6 pounds. The limit is 140 pounds.

How much does Arnold Barboza Jr. weigh?

Barboza Jr. weighed in at 139.8 pounds. The limit is 140 pounds.

Teofimo Lopez vs. Arnold Barboza Jr. fighter records

Lopez is 21-1 with 18 KOs. Barboza is 32-0 with 11 KOs.

Why was Ryan Garcia suspended?

Ryan Garcia was suspended for one year after he tested positive for a banned substance following his fight against Devin Haney April 20, 2024. The drug test came back positive for oastarine, an anabolic selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for human use.

Who won Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney fight?

Ryan Garcia beat Devin Haney by majority decision. But Garcia’s failed drug test rendered the bout a no-contest.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Lewis Hamilton’s favorite part about joining Ferrari so far? It’s easily the Italian food.

‘I’m trying to stay off the pizzas and the pasta, which I’m not doing very well with. I was there last week and have like three pizzas in two days,” Hamilton said with a laugh during a media day Thursday ahead of the 2025 Miami Grand Prix weekend at Miami International Autodrome.

Hamilton’s performance five races into his Ferrari career after leaving Mercedes, however, has been far from a lighthearted or laughing matter for the seven-time F1 champion.

While Hamilton won the first Sprint race of the season at the Chinese Grand Prix March 22, he was disqualified from the the main race due to a technical matter. Hamilton started the year with a 10th place finish in Australia. He finished seventh in Japan, fifth in Bahrain, and seventh again in Saudi Arabia.

More concerning, Hamilton has placed behind his Ferrari teammate Charles LeClare in four of the five races, China being the exception, and he’s placed behind both Mercedes drivers — George Russell and Kimi Antonelli — in three races this season.

It makes you wonder if Hamilton — who has watched Red Bull’s Max Verstappen take hold of the sport, winning four consecutive F1 Drivers’ Championships after Hamilton’s last in 2020 — still has it. Hamilton’s elusive eighth title would break a tie with Michael Schumacher for the most all-time in F1.

‘I try not to really focus on opinions of people that have no insight into actually what is going on – insights from individuals that have never been in my position,” Hamilton said when asked about other’s opinions of the state of his career amid his tough start at Ferrari. ‘So yeah, I just keep my head down and try to continue to enjoy the work that I do with the people I work with.’

Acclimating to a new car and new team takes time, but Hamilton ould makes some progress this week in Miami after visiting Ferrari’s F1 headquarters in Maranello, Italy last week.

Still, the pressure is on. He’s placed sixth in the previous three Miami races, and it’s been nearly a year since his last F1 win.

Hamilton stood atop the podium twice last year: He won at his home race, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 7, and he won the Belgium Grand Prix July 28. Hamilton inherited the latter victory after finishing second when his former teammate was disqualified from first place because his car did not meet post-race weight requirements.

The two victories ended a winless drought Hamilton experienced during the 2022 and 2023 F1 seasons. He finished in second place eight times during that span.

Before then, Hamilton was the sport’s best driver after championships in 2008, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

“When I joined Mercedes, the first six months were tough getting attuned to working with new people,” Hamilton said. “Obviously, the engineers I’m working with now are used to setting up a car for a different driver and a different driving style, and I’m used to driving a car with a different driving style. So, it’s a combination of a bunch of different things.”

Asked to elaborate more specifically, Hamilton said there are “many things, lots of different things — there’s not one particular.”

Is there any way Hamilton and Ferrari can shorten their adjustment to each other to less than the six months it took him when he first joined Mercedes in 2013?

‘We’re trying to work as hard as we can to shorten that, but it could be longer,” Hamilton said. “Who knows?”

There’s a long season ahead — 16 more races this year — to work out their new relationship, but time isn’t on 40-year-old Hamilton’s side.

“There are things that we’ve made adjustments to,’ he said. ‘We’ll see how they work this weekend.’