NBA, Boston, USA (Jan 22): Jaylen Brown has moved firmly into the NBA MVP conversation, emerging as the driving force behind a Boston Celtics side defying expectations and sitting near the top of the Eastern Conference.With Jayson Tatum yet to hit full stride, Brown has carried the Celtics on both ends of the floor, increasing his scoring load without sacrificing efficiency while routinely taking on the toughest defensive assignments. His impact has been central to Boston holding the No. 2 seed midway through the season, despite significant roster turnover last summer. League-wide, the MVP race remains fluid.
Jaylen Brown receives a standing ovation & MVP chants from fans after his 50-point performance. 🙌👏
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 4, 2026
(via @NBA)
pic.twitter.com/gbawb7GAqI https://t.co/pQpRWRMtvm
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has positioned himself as the frontrunner after another dominant campaign for Oklahoma City, while Cade Cunningham’s all-round excellence has lifted Detroit to the top of the East. Anthony Edwards and Luka Dončić round out the leading contenders, each producing career-defining offensive numbers. Brown’s rise, however, has been one of the season’s most compelling storylines. His blend of scoring, defence and leadership has not only kept Boston competitive but reshaped perceptions of his standing among the league’s elite, placing him far closer to the game’s top individual honour than many had anticipated.
NBA, Dallas, USA (Jan 22): Kyrie Irving’s long-awaited return from a torn ACL could be pushed back until next season, with the Dallas Mavericks weighing caution amid a faltering campaign. While Irving has made clear his desire to play before the end of the season, he has yet to be cleared to practise and league sources told ESPN that discussions are under way about delaying his comeback. Dallas sit eight games below .500, 12th in the Western Conference, and remain without Anthony Davis, who is sidelined with a hand injury.
The Mavericks’ struggles have prompted broader questions about direction, particularly with highly rated rookie Cooper Flagg emerging as a central figure in the franchise’s future. This season also represents the final year Dallas control their own first-round draft pick until 2031, sharpening the incentive to prioritise recovery, development and draft positioning. Irving, who qualifies as a star under the NBA’s Player Participation Policy, is understood to be keen to return, and no final decision has been taken. However, with postseason hopes fading and the long-term health of their roster at stake, the Mavericks may opt to give the veteran guard the remainder of the season to recover fully before resetting for next year.
Location TBC (First quarter of 2026): British boxer Hamzah Sheeraz (22-0-1, 18 KOs) has chosen to challenge Mexican-American Diego Pacheco (25-0, 18 KOs) in a super-middleweight (168 lbs) fight, following the cancellation of WBC purse bids for Sheeraz vs Christian Mbilli. The WBO extended the negotiation period until January 30, If both teams—Queensberry for Sheeraz and Matchroom for Pacheco—agree terms, a world title fight announcement could come soon. Both fighters are unbeaten in their mid-20s with 18 knockout victories each. Pacheco, 24, is ranked WBO #2, behind Canelo Álvarez, while Sheeraz, 26, is WBO #3.
Sheeraz’s rise through the middleweight ranks was halted by a 2025 draw with WBC champion Carlos Adames, prompting his move up to super-middleweight, where he destroyed Edgar Berlanga in five rounds in July 2025. Pacheco claimed the WBC Silver super-middleweight title in December 2025 by unanimous decision over Kevin Lele Sadjo. Both fighters, after a six-month hiatus for Sheeraz, are expected to be ready for the clash in the first quarter of 2026.
Presidents Trophy, Karachi, Pakistan (Jan 17): History was rewritten as Pakistan TV (PTV) pulled off the lowest successful run defence in first-class cricket, defending just 40 runs against Sui Northern Gas to win by two runs.
🚨 HISTORY MADE AT NATIONAL BANK STADIUM, KARACHI 🏏
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) January 17, 2026
PTV defend just 4️⃣0️⃣ runs 🆚 SNGPL – the smallest target ever successfully defended in first-class cricket, breaking a record set by Oldfield against MCC in 1794! 🤯
Scorecard: https://t.co/femkduLBIr#PresidentTrophy pic.twitter.com/rHAPaynmif
The previous record had stood since 1794, when Oldfield defended 41 runs at Lord’s. PTV’s hero was left-arm spinner Ali Usman, who’s sensational 6 for 9 dismantled Sui Northern’s batting line-up, bowling them out for 37. The match had initially seemed one-sided: PTV were bowled out for 166 in their first innings and 111 in their second, leaving Sui Northern a seemingly trivial target. Yet disciplined bowling and relentless belief turned the game into a historic triumph for PTV, cementing their place in cricketing history.
Africa Cup of Nations, Rabat, Morocco (Jan 22): Senegal coach Pape Thiaw has defended his team’s controversial walk-off during the Africa Cup of Nations final on January 18, as football authorities move towards possible sanctions following scenes of chaos in Rabat. Thiaw said the decision was an emotional response to perceived injustice, insisting it was never intended to undermine the game, as FIFA and the Moroccan Football Federation opened investigations into the incident.
The walk-off came deep into stoppage time against hosts Morocco, moments after a late Senegal goal was ruled out and a penalty was awarded to the hosts. Senegal’s players and staff left the pitch in protest before captain Sadio Mané persuaded them to return, allowing Brahim Díaz to take the spot-kick, which he missed. The match was halted for around 15 minutes amid clashes on the sidelines and crowd disorder, with stewards struggling to regain control.
Despite the turmoil, Senegal regrouped in extra time and secured a 1-0 victory through Pape Gueye to lift their second continental title, extending Morocco’s wait for AFCON glory to half a century.
UFC, Dagestan (Jan 20): Training footage of UFC pound-for-pound number one Islam Makhachev has gone viral after the Russian champion demonstrated a brutal-looking submission he refers to as the “oxygen cylinder”. The lightweight title-holder, unbeaten since 2015 and on a 16-fight winning streak, was filmed applying the hold on a teammate during training. The manoeuvre appears to combine a crucifix position with smothering pressure, using body weight and hand placement to restrict breathing and force a tap-out.
Makhachev downplayed the move’s novelty, saying he has used it before, while a teammate explained that the pressure comes from both the hips and covering the opponent’s mouth. The footage has sparked debate online over its legality, with UFC rules permitting facial smothering but offering less clarity on fully obstructing an opponent’s airway.
Makhachev became a two-weight champion after dominating Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 and is currently preparing for his next title defence, continuing to refine his grappling ahead of a return to the Octagon.
Rich Venus Karachi Open, Karachi, Pakistan (Jan 6 – 11): Egypt’s world junior champions Amina Orfi and Mohamed Zakaria captured the women’s and men’s titles respectively. World number three Orfi defeated Malaysia’s Sivasangari Subramaniam in straight games, winning 11-8, 11-2, 11-7 in a 38-minute final to secure her fourth title of the season.
In the men’s final, 18-year-old Zakaria edged compatriot Aly Abou Eleinen in a dramatic five-game contest lasting nearly 100 minutes. Zakaria prevailed 11-9, 9-11, 12-14, 11-7, 11-7 to claim the biggest title of his career.
The match featured lengthy rallies, multiple player reviews and late drama before the referee upheld the final decision in Zakaria’s favour. Eleinen, 26, suffered cramping in the deciding game but pushed the teenager throughout a high-quality final. Zakaria said he was proud of his physical performance and described the victory as a milestone, while both players reflected on growing up together in Alexandria and fulfilling a shared dream of contesting a major final.
Photo: Senegal coach Pape Thiaw holds the AFCON trophy after a 1-0 extra-time win over Morocco in Rabat on January 18. Thiaw defended his team’s stoppage-time walk-off as an emotional response to perceived injustice, amid ongoing FIFA and Moroccan Football Federation investigations. (Credit: Samah Zidan/AA)
