June delivers upsets and milestones across boxing, football, MMA, and cricket
June delivered major upsets and key developments across multiple sports, with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah emerging as the frontrunner for the Premier League’s top individual honour while Birmingham’s Olympic champion Galal Yafai suffered his first professional defeat. Meanwhile, Kamaru Usman returned to winning ways in the UFC, and cricket saw a significant overseas signing as the sporting world continues to evolve amid ongoing gender eligibility debates.
BOXING
June 21 | Birmingham – Britain’s Galal Yafai suffered the first defeat of his professional career in a dramatic upset at the BP Pulse Live Arena, as he lost on points to Mexico’s Francisco Rodriguez Jr, ending his hopes of a fast-track world title shot.
The 32-year-old Olympic gold medallist from Birmingham was floored in the final round and struggled throughout the high-paced bout against the former unified strawweight champion. Despite flashes of resilience and some clean punches, Yafai was repeatedly hurt, particularly in the seventh and ninth rounds, before being dropped by a crisp combination in the twelfth.
Fighting in front of a home crowd, Yafai — who had previously cruised past Sunny Edwards — couldn’t match Rodriguez’s relentless pressure and speed. Judges scored the contest decisively in favour of the Mexican: 119-108, 119-108, and 118-109.
The defeat cost Yafai his WBC interim flyweight title and dealt a blow to his ambitions of facing Japan’s Kenshiro Teraji for a full world title. His promoter, Eddie Hearn, acknowledged the challenge, saying: “He failed on the hurdle to elite level… but I’m so proud of him.”
Yafai, a proud representative of Birmingham’s Yemeni and Muslim communities, had been seen as one of Britain’s brightest boxing prospects. Now, he faces a period of rebuilding to regain momentum toward world honours.
May 30 | Algerian Olympic gold medallist Imane Khelif was barred from competing at the Eindhoven Boxing Cup (June 5–10) following a new ruling by World Boxing, which now mandates genetic sex screening for all female athletes.
The 26-year-old, who clinched gold at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, had been promoted as a headline athlete for the Dutch event. However, a letter from World Boxing confirmed her exclusion unless she undergoes XX chromosome verification, marking a controversial shift in eligibility rules.
Khelif previously failed an unspecified gender test conducted by the Russian-led International Boxing Association in 2023, though she was allowed to compete in Paris.
The decision has reignited scrutiny around gender policies in sport, with World Boxing justifying the emergency rule change as necessary to maintain fairness. While critics claim the move targets successful female athletes from the Global South, the federation insists it aligns with its evolving competition standards.
Khelif has defended her identity, telling ITV, “I am not transgender… I was born a girl, raised as a girl, and have lived my entire life as one.” She expressed her determination to return to the Olympic ring at Los Angeles 2028, saying: “Second gold medal, of course. In America.”
CRICKET
June 21 | Yorkshire County Cricket Club announced that they have signed Pakistan international Abdullah Shafique as their overseas player.
The 25-year-old top-order batsman will join the squad next week and be available for Championship matches against Nottinghamshire and at York, plus the final four Vitality Blast group games.
Shafique brings impressive credentials with five Test centuries in 22 caps and recently scored 390 runs in Pakistan’s successful PSL campaign last month, including a match-winning 41 in the final.
Head Coach Anthony McGrath praised the signing as “really positive” and highlighted Shafique’s technical ability and experience at the highest level.
FOOTBALL
June 20 | Mohamed Salah has emerged as the frontrunner for the 2024–25 Men’s PFA Player of the Year award after being named on the six-man shortlist announced earlier this month.
The Liverpool star, who helped guide the Reds to Premier League glory this season, headlines a competitive field that includes Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Alexander Isak (Newcastle), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), and teammate Alexis Mac Allister.
Salah’s consistent brilliance throughout the campaign has made him the bookmakers’ favourite, though he faces strong competition from Isak, who scored 23 league goals and netted in Newcastle’s League Cup final victory.
The winner will be revealed at the upcoming PFA Awards ceremony, with voting now in its final stages among the players’ peers.
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
June 14 | Former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman ended his 20-month losing streak with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Joaquin Buckley at UFC Fight Night in Atlanta.
The 38-year-old Usman (21-4) controlled the fight from start to finish, winning 49-46, 49-46, 48-47 on all three scorecards to claim his first victory since November 2021.
Usman dominated the early rounds with takedowns and ground control, out striking Buckley 16-0 in significant strikes through the first two rounds before weathering a late comeback attempt from the previously unbeaten welterweight.
Photo: Mohamed Salah is the leading contender for the Premier League’s top individual honour after a stellar season with Liverpool, while Birmingham’s Olympic boxing champion Galal Yafai suffered his first professional defeat in June, marking a significant upset in the sport. (Credit:Wiki commons)
