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‘Rage on The Red Sea’ …Usyk Retains Heavyweight Boxing Titles

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the Rage on The Red Sea event. Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the Rage on The Red Sea event. Asharq Al-Awsat
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‘Rage on The Red Sea’ …Usyk Retains Heavyweight Boxing Titles

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the Rage on The Red Sea event. Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the Rage on The Red Sea event. Asharq Al-Awsat

In the presence of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and a host of elite sports and international figures, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Saudi Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz al-Faisal, Ukrainian titleholder and boxer Oleksandr Usyk won a rematch against his challenger, Anthony Joshua.

By winning the rematch, Usyk retained his world heavyweight boxing titles.

The event took place on Saturday at King Abdullah Sports City Arena in Jeddah, where a large crowd of boxing fans was able to watch the match.

Dubbed “Rage on The Red Sea,” the match ended after 12 rounds and a split decision by the judges. Two of the judges awarded the fight to Usyk, and one judge awarded the fight to Joshua.

The fight was witnessed by a crowd of nearly 40,000 boxing enthusiasts from 60 different countries. Many media professionals covered the fight.

Sports events coinciding with the fight took place in the squares surrounding the King Abdullah Sports City Arena.

Oleksandr Usyk v Anthony Joshua - WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight world title - King Abdullah Sports City Arena, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - August 20, 2022 Oleksandr Usyk celebrates winning his fight against Anthony Joshua with the belts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

In the secondary fights that took place, Saudi boxer Ziad Al-Mayouf scored a historic start by defeating his Mexican rival Jose Alator by a technical knockout. Jordan’s Badr Al-Samrin also won the same way over the Azerbaijani Fuad Tarverdi.

“Rage on The Red Sea” is the second international fight hosted by the Kingdom, after the great success that was achieved in the Diriyah Arena fight in December 2019.

Last September, Usyk won on a unanimous decision to take the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO world heavyweight boxing belts from Joshua.

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Schouten to Miss World Cup after Surgery on Cruciate Ligament Injury

Soccer Football - Champions League - PSV Eindhoven v Sporting CP - Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands - October 1, 2024 PSV Eindhoven's Jerdy Schouten scores their first goal REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw/File Photo
Soccer Football - Champions League - PSV Eindhoven v Sporting CP - Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands - October 1, 2024 PSV Eindhoven's Jerdy Schouten scores their first goal REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw/File Photo
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Schouten to Miss World Cup after Surgery on Cruciate Ligament Injury

Soccer Football - Champions League - PSV Eindhoven v Sporting CP - Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands - October 1, 2024 PSV Eindhoven's Jerdy Schouten scores their first goal REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw/File Photo
Soccer Football - Champions League - PSV Eindhoven v Sporting CP - Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands - October 1, 2024 PSV Eindhoven's Jerdy Schouten scores their first goal REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw/File Photo

PSV Eindhoven captain Jerdy Schouten sustained a cruciate ligament injury in the match against Utrecht that required surgery, his club said on Sunday, ruling the Netherlands midfielder out of the World Cup.

Schouten suffered the injury in the second half of Saturday's 4-3 victory when he twisted his knee and the 29-year-old was taken off on a stretcher.

PSV said further examinations on Sunday confirmed the injury which generally takes six to nine months for a full recovery.

"When it happened, I actually felt immediately that something was wrong," Schouten said, Reuters reported.

"You still have a glimmer of hope that it isn't too bad, but unfortunately that turned out not to be the case. The blow is big right now, but I will move on quickly.

"Great things are about to happen for PSV again and I will do everything I can to be involved in everything."

Schouten made 40 appearances for PSV across all competitions this season, including 28 league games as they inch closer to a third straight title.

Having made his international debut in 2022, Schouten has played 17 times for the Netherlands, last playing the full 90 minutes in a friendly draw with Ecuador last week.

Sports

Pegula Downs Jovic to Reach WTA Charleston Final

Jessica Pegula of the United States stretches for s ball while playing Iva Jovic of the United States during the Semifinals of the Credit One Charleston Open at Credit One Stadium on April 4, 2026 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP)
Jessica Pegula of the United States stretches for s ball while playing Iva Jovic of the United States during the Semifinals of the Credit One Charleston Open at Credit One Stadium on April 4, 2026 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Pegula Downs Jovic to Reach WTA Charleston Final

Jessica Pegula of the United States stretches for s ball while playing Iva Jovic of the United States during the Semifinals of the Credit One Charleston Open at Credit One Stadium on April 4, 2026 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP)
Jessica Pegula of the United States stretches for s ball while playing Iva Jovic of the United States during the Semifinals of the Credit One Charleston Open at Credit One Stadium on April 4, 2026 in Charleston, South Carolina. (Getty Images/AFP)

Defending champion Jessica Pegula advanced to the final of the WTA Charleston Open clay-court tournament on Saturday, defeating fourth seed Iva Jovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.

American top seed Pegula, who has been taken to three sets in each of her four matches in Charleston this week, finally wrapped up victory in 2hr 35min when Jovic pulled a forehand return wide.

The 32-year-old from New York will face Yuliia Starodubtseva in Sunday's final after the unseeded Ukrainian upset fifth seed Madison Keys in the other semi-final.

World number 89 Starodubtseva, who was initially scheduled to go through qualifying in Charleston before being granted a place in the main draw after a withdrawal, defeated Keys 6-1, 6-4.

World number five Pegula will be chasing her second title of the season on Sunday after her victory in Dubai in February.

The American admitted after Saturday's latest three-setter that she has become used to taking the scenic route as she has advanced through the rounds in Charleston.

"When I won the first set today I thought 'Oh man, I have such a great chance to not go to three'. I was like 'Maybe I'll get it done in two today'," Pegula told the Tennis Channel.

"I'd love some straight sets victories -- that would be nice. But a win's a win. If I'm gonna win every match for the rest of my life, but it's three sets, I'll take the three sets."

While Pegula will be targeting her second title of the year on Sunday, Starodubtseva will be aiming for the first of her career.

The 26-year-old Ukrainian punished Keys's fragile service game to race through the first set in just 31 minutes, breaking the American four times to win 6-1, before clinching victory with another service break in the 10th game of the second set.

"I did not expect to break her that many times today," Starodubtseva said. "I feel like I did quite well at neutralizing her power and just hitting a heavy ball back.

"I can't really described my feelings right now. I may not have expected this outcome in this tournament but hard work pays off."

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Arsenal’s Arteta Rues Missed Opportunity After FA Cup Exit

Soccer Football - FA Cup - Quarter-Final - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - April 4, 2026 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - FA Cup - Quarter-Final - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - April 4, 2026 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts. (Reuters)
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Arsenal’s Arteta Rues Missed Opportunity After FA Cup Exit

Soccer Football - FA Cup - Quarter-Final - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - April 4, 2026 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - FA Cup - Quarter-Final - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - April 4, 2026 Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts. (Reuters)

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta ‌could not hide his disappointment after his side were dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship side Southampton on Saturday, suggesting the team’s poor defending was the major contributing factor.

The 2-1 quarter-final defeat follows on from the League Cup final loss to Manchester City last time out as Arsenal’s "quadruple" hopes this season have suddenly been downgraded to a "double" as they now chase Premier League and Champions League honors.

"The result and especially the way we conceded the two goals (were disappointing)," Arteta told the BBC. "We had so much dominance in and ‌around the ‌box. We conceded the first goal in a ‌very ⁠unusual way for ⁠us, the second one from direct play as well.

"We had two massive chances and needed to capitalize on that. If you make the defending errors we made today, it's very difficult to be in the semi-final."

Arsenal were without several first team regulars for a match played in driving wind and rain, but Arteta refused to blame ⁠either of those factors and was not surprised ‌by the test Southampton gave them.

"They ‌are a very good side on a very good run and you have ‌to congratulate them," he said. "You have to adapt to the ‌wind, the injuries. You have to adapt to difficult situations in the season. Now we have to show what we are made of.

"That (Arsenal) team had very good moments. They should have capitalized and be going to Wembley, ‌and we haven't done it."

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert is now unbeaten in 15 matches in all ⁠competitions with ⁠the south coast club, but is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

"We put on a good shift today. It was a challenge, we knew it was going to be a tough game. The second half always has the chance to shift and we reacted quite well," he said.

"You always need to find a balance, it's not going direct for the sake of going direct. You need spells with shorter solutions and we had a good mix today.

"Belief is always there, it's not been a problem. The reality is that the game is close. It's going to be nice to celebrate today but we open up Wrexham and Championship football tomorrow."