Sports News Highlights November 15, 2024: Mike Tyson, Jake Paul All Ready For Boxing Clash

Mike Tyson is set for his first sanctioned fight since 2005 as the 58-year-old former heavyweight champion takes on much younger YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Texas.

The eight-round bout Friday night at the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys will be streamed on Netflix, which has more than 280 million subscribers globally.

Texas regulators sanctioned the bout with limited rounds at just two minutes per round. Tyson and the 27-year-old Paul also will use heavier gloves, which in theory limits the power of punches.

Iga Swiatek beat Paula Badosa in three sets and Poland led Spain by an insurmountable 2-0 in the opening round of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals on Friday.

The world No. 2 Swiatek sealed Poland’s spot in the quarterfinals against the Czech Republic after No. 12 Badosa was beaten 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-1 on the indoor hard-court.

Japan defeated Indonesia 4-0 on Friday to move seven points clear at the top of Group C in the third round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Two goals in each half mean the Samurai Blue stays on course for an eighth successive World Cup appearance.

Team India were on a roll with the bat as Sanju Samson and Tilak varma scored their respective tons in the innings. India amassed a huge total of 283, and some of the courtesy could be given to the Proteas Men's sloggy fielding.

Team India are in their absolute beast mode as Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma go BIG against the Proteas Men! Both have secured their respective tons against SA at the Wanderers Stadium.

Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul and Arshdeep Singh will headline a 574-strong list of players with top base price of Rs 2 crore at the upcoming Indian Premier League auction scheduled in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah on November 24 and 25.

Thirteen-year-old India U-19 cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi from Bihar is the youngest among the lot at Rs 30 lakh base price.

Apart from Pant, set to be the costliest buy at the auction with a team like Punjab Kings aiming to go the distance with Rs 110.50 crore in its kitty, the other big names include IPL winning captain Shreyas Iyer, India's most prolific T20I bowler Arshdeep Singh, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal and Avesh Khan.

India pacer Vysakh Vijaykumar was on Friday named in Karnataka’s 15-member squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy to be played in Indore from November 23 to December 5.

Vysakh missed the last two rounds of Ranji Trophy after he was drafted into the India squad, currently in South Africa for a four-match T20I series.

Team India have won the toss in the 4th T20I and Skipper Suryakumar Yadav has opted to bat first.

Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah has strongly condemned the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) announcement to conduct the Champions Trophy tour in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), reiterating India's objection to the move. Jay Shah raised the matter with the International Cricket Council (ICC), urging the body to take appropriate action in light of the BCCI’s concerns over territorial integrity and political interference in sports, sources have said.

In a desperate and provoking move, the Pakistan Cricket Board had announced that the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will begin its trophy tour in Islamabad on November 16, covering locations including Skardu, Murree, Hunza, and Muzaffarabad in the country. Notably, Skardu, Hunza, and Muzaffarabad are situated in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The Tampa Bay Rays will play their 2025 home games at the New York Yankees’ nearby spring training ballpark amid uncertainty about the future of hurricane-damaged Tropicana Field, Rays executives told The Associated Press.

Stuart Sternberg, the Rays’ principal owner, said in an interview that Steinbrenner Field in Tampa is the best fit for the team and its fanbase. At about 11,000 seats, it’s also the largest of the spring training sites in Florida.

“It is singularly the best opportunity for our fans to experience 81 games of major league Rays baseball,” Sternberg said. “As difficult as it is to get any of these stadiums up to major league standards, it was the least difficult. You’re going to see Major League Baseball in a small environment.”

The International Cricket Council have called off the Champions Trophy title tour at the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. The Pakistan Cricket Board had announced the Champions Trophy Title tour, in which the title won by Pakistan at England was to be put on display throughout the nation.

However, the ICC have cancelled the tour in the city of Skardu, Hunza and Mazafarabad. All the regions fall in the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Mohammad Shami's childhood coach, Mohammed Badruddin, offered a huge update on Shami's comeback on the national side, saying that he could join Team India as soon as the Border Gavaskar Trophy series, where he could return at The Gabba.

“He will be joining the Indian team after the Adelaide (second) Test. Now that he is back, proved his fitness, picked up wickets, he will be crucial for the team in the second half of the tour,” coach Badruddin said to Indian Express.

Reports from Geo News are stating that the International Cricket Council (ICC) is seeking a written explanation from the BCCI over their denial to send Team India. The development has come to light after the BCCI verbally informed the ICC regarding their decision to not send the Men in Blue for CT 2025. Citing 'security concerns,' India has steadfastly maintained its position against going to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy. PCB is seeking a copy of India's response from the ICC as a response.

"In case of receiving a written reply, Pakistan may seek substantial evidence supporting the reasons," the reports stated.

Reports also add that after considering the reasons sent by the BCCI, the ICC would then need to make a final ruling regarding Team India's participation. Should India decline to visit Pakistan for any reason, the mega event may be replaced by another team. The BCCI's sole reason for not travelling to Pakistan

Saturday: Lionel Messi's Inter Miami is eliminated from the MLS Cup playoffs.  

Thursday: Messi's Argentina loses to Paraguay in World Cup qualifying.  

Two defeats in one week for Lionel Messi.

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