Timothy Nwachukwu via Getty Images

Lamont Roach is seemingly entering stardom at an ideal moment considering the resurgent nature of younger American fighters in the wider, international pound-for-pound picture.

The former super featherweight world champion is a rare exception in a sport that too often rewards, or at least overlooks, bad behavior.

Whether it’s Ryan Garcia’s abhorrent comments about George Floyd and the KKK, controversial influencer Andrew Tate entering Misfits amid numerous outstanding sexual assault allegations, or the steady drumbeat of drug scandals involving Janibek Alimkhanuly (meldonium), Joseph Parker (cocaine), and Subriel Matías (ostarine), the spotlight is often pointed at the worst parts of boxing.

Roach is the antithesis, and it’s largely because of his underreported work with at-risk youth in his hometown of Capitol Heights, Maryland. And it’s not just things he does in the gym, but more broadly in the community, too. “I partner with the DC [Public] Library where we do events and implement boxing programming throughout the summer, in different libraries and certain schools,” he told Uncrowned ahead of Saturday’s fight against WBC interim super lightweight champion Isaac Cruz.

“I’ve done visits and outreach events to talk to kids who might be ‘at-risk’ [because of] what they could fall into, to get them back in line, and give them someone to reach who is successful in his own right, and that they can do it too if they focus on doing the right things.”

Boxing is renowned for its access, and this puts it at odds with more mainstream sports.

Whether it’s the training facilities of nearby NFL franchise Baltimore Ravens, or the MLB team Baltimore Orioles, established outfits like that typically operate — and train — behind closed doors.

But Gyms like Roach’s NoXcuse Boxing Club — 35 miles from the Ravens and Orioles — operate with an open-door policy, especially for kids. They offer training and cookouts in a place to burn energy and socialize safely, giving young people somewhere structured to go.

“The main thing boxing facilitates is discipline,” Roach said. “It uses discipline very well to get them a grasp on how to navigate through the tough and challenging hurdles in sport, and then they apply that to life as well. ‘If I can be disciplined here, I can apply it in real life.’ That’s what boxing really does for at-risk youth.”

Roach’s own pathway to prominence has been forged in that discipline.

He’s a technical fighter whose style favors intelligence over power. His championship run at 130 pounds and his foray into lightweight have shown resilience, consistency and an adaptability rooted in discipline.

He’s already fought once this year in a majority draw with Gervonta “Tank” Davis. It’s a fight many believed Roach deserved to win, and it would have become the most meaningful victory of his career, even beyond his wins over Jamel Herring and Hector Luis Garcia.

Despite being linked to a rematch against Davis so that they could finally settle their rivalry, the bout never came together. “Tank” instead moved on to an exhibition with Jake Paul, which Paul ultimately canceled after new civil allegations of domestic violence plagued Davis and the fight itself.

Unfazed, Roach pivoted toward “Pitbull” Cruz, a rugged, no-nonsense Mexican pressure fighter, whom he meets at lightweight on Saturday, Dec. 6 atop a PBC card in San Antonio, Texas.

“I’m excited, I’m not going to lie,” he said. “Things have been put off for a long time and I feel like it’s going to be a coming-out party, all over again.

“The atmosphere is going to be crazy, but that’s one thing I’m not worried about. This is going to be a fire-fight, and that’s going to be fun for me. I hope ‘Pitbull’ has his boots laced up because I’m ready to rock-and-roll, for sure.”

Though the end of the year has been somewhat sluggish for the U.S. boxing calendar, the sport has been on a tear in recent weeks, with a four-fight card in Riyadh showcasing many of the best fighters in American boxing, including Devin Haney, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez and David Benavidez.

The first six rounds of the Haney vs. Brian Norman Jr. fight showed skills from Haney that put him on par with some of the best pound-for-pound boxing we’ve seen in recent years.

Al Bello via Getty Images

And Roach sees Cruz bringing the best out of him and his style, just like how Norman’s forced the best out of Haney, who dropped his rival in the second round en route to a straightforward decision that showed off his laser-like jab.

“Isaac is the perfect dance partner for me,” said Roach. “I am going to capitalize, bring the same energy [as Haney], and be tactical.”

Should Roach do to Cruz what he was doing for the bulk of the fight against Davis then it will provide an extraordinary springboard for even greater things in 2026, he said.

“That will be a minimum three-fight year, if we get on the ball right after this,” Roach said. “My goal is to be one of the best pound-for-pound fighters and I’m taking a step in the right direction. Beating ‘Pitbull’ in another weight class might put me somewhere close to the top 10.”

Few would bet against him, particularly because of the shake-up in recent times of how younger Americans are beginning to establish themselves as the very best in the sport.

Per Uncrowned’s own top-10 pound-for-pound rankings, for example, Terence Crawford continues to dominate the top spot, but “Bam” Rodriguez is in hot pursuit in fifth, with Benavidez tied sixth, Shakur Stevenson tied for eighth, and Haney as a new entrant at 10th.

If Cruz gets him close to that group, beating one of them would push him even higher. “Me and Shakur are on a collision course to meet one day and, when we do, it’ll be a big fight for the fans,” said Roach, who added that he loves the shake-up of younger Americans beginning to dominate the top spots once again.

“We’re coming into a new era and hopefully we get it together and start fighting each other. … That goes for all the weight classes. The lighter weight classes do it — look at what ‘Bam’ is doing, collecting belt after belt. That’s a bad man, and he’s definitely in my top five.

“David Benavidez is younger than me and doing the things he’s doing. He dominated at 168 [pounds], moved up, and he’s putting a beating on them guys at light heavyweight. Now he’s fighting Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez next year.”

It all means one thing for Roach: “American boxing is putting itself back on the map.”

Considering the “beautiful landscape at 135,” it may not be long before Roach punctuates his own place on that map. Because while boxing rarely rewards the good guys, if Roach beats Cruz and forces his way toward Stevenson, the sport may finally have no choice.

The Houston Rockets have had players donning a total of 52 different jersey numbers (and have one not part of any numerical series for Houston assistant coach and general manager Carroll Dawson) since their founding at the start of the 1967-68 season, worn by just under 500 players in the course of Rockets history.

To honor all of the the players who wore those numbers over the decades, Rockets Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who wore them since the founding of the team all those years ago right up to the present day.

With seven of those jerseys now retired to honor some of the greatest Rockets of all time to wear those jerseys, there is a lot of history to cover.

And for today’s article, we will continue with the 11th of 18 players who wore the No. 2, forward alum Marcus Morris. After ending his college career at Kansas, Morris was picked up with the 14th overall selection of the 2011 NBA Draft by the Rockets.

The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native played parts of the first two seasons of his pro career with Houston, coming to an end when he was dealt to the Phoenix Suns in 2013.

During his time suiting up for the Rockets, Morris wore only jersey No. 2 and put up 7.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game.

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Rockets jersey history No. 2 – Marcus Morris (2011-13)

The UFC is kicking off 2026 in style.

In January, the UFC begins a new era with broadcast partner Paramount+, and on Friday, before the UFC 323 ceremonial weigh-ins, the promotion held its seasonal “It’s On” press conference, highlighting the marquee fights for the start of 2026 and the new era.

UFC 324 takes place on Jan. 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and will be headlined by an interim lightweight title fight between Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett. The event also features a women’s bantamweight title fight between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes, and a men’s bantamweight bout between Sean O’Malley and Song Yadong. UFC 325 UFC 325 takes place at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, and is headlined by a featherweight title fight rematch between Alexander Volkanovski and Diego Lopes. All eight fighters from these cards were in attendance, plus Derrick Lewis and Waldo Cortes-Acosta, who face off UFC 324.

Plus, the UFC surprised everyone by announcing that Max Holloway will defend his “BMF” title against Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC 326 in March at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with both men in attendance for the press conference as well.

After a very cordial press conference from all parties, the promotion had the fighters face off for the first time. Check out the initial stare downs above.

It’s Friday, which means it’s time for our Victory of the Week (VOTW) post! This evening’s conversation prompt is straightforward: What was your victory this week? Did something remarkable happen? Is there a small achievement worth celebrating? This could relate to the Miami Dolphins, your professional life, or your personal life. We all experience victories, big or small, and we want to hear about yours.

This post is for you, our site members, who are part of our Phinsider family. This is your opportunity to share your successes from the past week. Your triumphs can be significant, such as the birth of a new child or grandchild, or finally landing that job or promotion you’ve been working hard for. They can also be smaller victories, like winning $100 on a lottery scratch-off ticket, or any other positive experience you’d like to share.

This is your post to celebrate your achievements, so feel free to share them in the comments section below.

Marc André ter Stegen’s long road back from summer back surgery is almost over. After months of rehab, the 33-year-old has rejoined group sessions and is progressing smoothly, showing no lingering discomfort from the operation he underwent in late July. His return has been gradual and carefully managed, but the expectation within the club is that he could receive medical clearance as early as next week.

For now, though, Joan Garcia keeps the No. 1 shirt. The young keeper has impressed Hansi Flick since preseason, and barring an unexpected twist, he is set to remain the starter even once Ter Stegen is fully fit. That reality leaves the German in a complicated position. Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann has made it clear that he needs minutes to secure his place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and sitting on the bench in Barcelona will not help him get there.

Publicly, Ter Stegen has repeated that he wants to stay and fight for his spot. Privately, his representatives are reportedly surveying the market in case he chooses to push for a January move. Radio reports in Spain suggest that several clubs would be willing to take him on loan if he decides to leave, though his sizeable salary would likely require Barcelona to shoulder part of it.

Inside the club, the tone is slightly different. According to rumors, executives say the relationship with Ter Stegen is good again after the disagreements last summer, and they insist his contract will be respected. They also maintain that the first step must come from him if he wants to leave midseason.

Deco has tried to cool the noise around the situation. Speaking to local media this week, the sporting director reiterated that “the first thing is to recover” before talking about a potential winter exit. He also noted that Ter Stegen will “surely look for options to play” with the World Cup approaching, but stopped short of confirming whether the club expects him to go. On Thursday he was even firmer, saying there were no plans for any departures in January.

According to reports, president Joan Laporta acknowledges that Ter Stegen will not start under Flick, but he does not intend to force a move or actively seek suitors. Instead, the club is prepared to let circumstances take their natural course. If the goalkeeper decides he wants regular football elsewhere, Barcelona will listen. If not, he could remain in a reduced role through the end of the season.

After a productive start to his rookie campaign, the Dallas Mavericks are expected to convert two-way guard Ryan Nembhard to a standard contract this season.

Nembhard is averaging 8.6 points, 4.6 assists and 1.5 rebounds on 50% shooting from 3-point range in 10 appearances with the Mavericks. He ranks ninth among all rookies in assists (46) and is tied for the second-most double-doubles (2).

The 6-footer has filled in as their starting point guard over the past four games, averaging 17 points, 7.5 assists and 2.8 rebounds on 66.7% shooting from beyond the arc (12-of-18). He appears to have earned a full-time contract, according to Marc Stein of The Stein Line on Substack.

League sources tell The Stein Line that the Mavericks have already committed to converting Nembhard to a standard contract as soon as they can. They don’t have the financial wiggle room under the second apron of the league’s luxury tax system to do so until early January as their roster stands …

Nembhard on Monday became the first undrafted rookie in the modern draft era (1967) to record at least 25 points and 10 assists in a game without a turnover. He is one of three overall rookies to accomplish that feat, and the first since Stephon Marbury in November 1996.

The 22-year-old followed that performance by recording 15 points, 13 assists, five rebounds and one steal with one turnover on Wednesday. He is the first undrafted rookie with at least 15 points and 10 assists in consecutive games in history.

Nembhard impressed coach Jason Kidd and the rest of the team throughout training camp with his ability as a floor general who can make plays for others. He has played a key role to start the season and looks to have secured his long-term future in the process.

This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Rumor: Mavs ‘committed’ to converting Ryan Nembhard to standard deal

The week of releases was highlighted by the new jerseys of some national teams that will compete in the 2026 World Cup.

There were also new kits for a team aiming to qualify for the World Cup and other novelties.

Another highlight that caught attention was Mirassol’s “gala outfit.” 

Check out the details below and share your opinion: which one stands out the most?

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Mirassol

The big surprise of the Brasileirão and already guaranteed in the group stage of the 2026 Libertadores, Mirassol, together with Athleta, delivered a jersey worthy of celebration to mark its centenary.  

Former players and current club figures took part in the launch.

The shirt is off-white, with a green polo collar featuring yellow and white details. The same pattern is repeated on the cuffs.

The model features two interlaced crests on the chest area: the club’s first emblem and the current one, highlighting the club’s evolution. 

There’s also a “timeline” of crests used by the club throughout its history.

This shirt will only be used at events and commemorative occasions.

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Ancelotti sidesteps questions about Neymar at the World Cup and talks about a farewell in Brazil

National Team coach analyzes Brazil’s group at the World Cup

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Portugal

Portugal’s jersey pays homage to its Atlantic heart. The classic red gains an overlaid wavy pattern that evokes the energy of the ocean.

Added to this are green details symbolizing the indomitable spirit of the National Team and a reference to its historic explorers.

The team of the Quinas is in Group K of the World Cup along with Uzbekistan, Colombia, and the winner of the match between DR Congo and New Caledonia or Jamaica.  

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Austria

The design of Austria’s jersey also features an intense red with black sleeves and shoulders.

They are in Group J, the same as Argentina, Algeria, and Jordan. 

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Switzerland

 Switzerland’s jersey has the traditional Helvetic red, with a texture of fine, non-linear vertical stripes. The details are in white.

They are in Group B, along with Canada, Qatar, and the winner of the “A” path of the European playoffs: Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales/Bosnia.

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Czechia

The shirt is a darker shade of red with silver details. The collar has a button.

The first mission will be to eliminate Ireland and then face the winner of the Denmark vs North Macedonia match.

Only after those victories will they compete in the World Cup alongside Mexico, South Korea, and South Africa in Group A. 

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Magdeburg

The German second-division club is celebrating 60 years of history.

Its new jersey was inspired by the one used in 1965.

The shirt brings back symbolic elements of the city and the club. The castle, one of Magdeburg’s icons, and the maid appear on the fabric and also on the collar print.

Another highlight is that the club’s sponsors (Humanas and SWM) gave up their logos, allowing for a faithful reinterpretation of the ’65 kit.

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Girondins de Bordeaux

The new third kit of the club, which is trying to restart in the French Fourth Division, is inspired by the one used in the 1995/1996 season.

Zidane was the standout of the team that reached the UEFA Cup final, now the Europa League, but was defeated by Bayern. 

Bordeaux is currently the runner-up in Group A of National 2.

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Athletic Bilbao

The Basque club’s fourth kit is “quite different.” The theme is “Born To Roar,” which refers to the history of Athletic and its fans, the Athleticzales.

Red is the predominant color of the piece. The highlight is the graphic on the body in the shape of a lion’s head, in a darker shade. 

So, which one is the most beautiful? 

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are doing their due diligence after offensive tackle Calvin Anderson was ruled out ahead of the Week 14 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, hosting a veteran offensive lineman for a visit.

On Friday, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reported that former Ravens OT David Sharpe visited with Pittsburgh ahead of Sunday’s clash with Baltimore.

#Steelers hosted veteran tackle David Sharpe for a visit

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) December 5, 2025

Losing LT Broderick Jones (knee) for the season and Anderson (knee) for at least Week 14, the Steelers are down to just OT Andrus Peat and OT Dylan Cook (practice squad) in their reserves.

Selected by the then-Oakland Raiders with the 129th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Sharpe would go on to appear in 46 games (six starts) over a span of seven seasons. He would play for the Raiders, Houston Texans, Washington Football Team, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, and Los Angeles Chargers.

For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including Pittsburgh’s Week 14 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers vs. Ravens: Pittsburgh hosts OT David Sharpe for visit

There is no bigger thorn in a quarterback’s side than a good pass rusher, but the Bucs haven’t been able to consistently leave their mark with sacks this season.

Currently, they’re tied for 14th in the NFL with 29. The last time they played the Saints on Oct. 26, the Bucs had five sacks, including two by outside linebacker Anthony Nelson.

His career-best game also included a pick six and a forced fumble, earning him NFC defensive player of the week honors.

The Bucs have had only four sacks in the four games since.

However, outside linebacker Yaya Diaby has shown signs of heating up, recording a sack in each of the past two games to lead the club with six. The next closest is defensive tackle Vita Vea with 3 ½.

“I don’t care where (the sacks) come from; I think he’s been playing well the past few weeks,” coach Todd Bowles said of Diaby. ”We’ve just got to learn to corral the quarterback and then working together. They do fine individually, just got to continue to work together.”

Pressure and coverage work hand-in-hand in the NFL, but the Bucs have struggled to put those two elements in sync. As a result, they allowed huge chunk plays early and often in back-to-back losses to the Patriots and Bills last month.

“The big thing is, the big plays have cut down, and that’s a positive,” Bowles said. “We’ve just got to make sure we keep the quarterback in the pocket and get him down.”

The Bucs had 27 pressures, or a 53.3% pressure rate on dropbacks last Sunday against the Cardinals, according to Pro Football Focus. They were led by Vea and defensive lineman Logan Hall, who had six pressures apiece.

Vea and Diaby both managed to get Arizona quarterback Jacoby Brissett to the ground, each recording a sack.

No doubt, Diaby benefitted from the return of outside linebacker Haason Reddick, who played for the first time since he injured his knee and ankle Oct. 20 at Detroit.

“Just having him out there, just the presence,” Diaby said. “It made everybody more hungry, because as we get healthier the more exciting it gets. And having had him out there was a big plus.”

Reddick had hoped to reestablish himself as one of the league’s premier pass rushers when he signed a one-year, $14 million contract with the Bucs in March. However, injuries have limited him to just 1 ½ sacks this season.

Nonetheless, Reddick made his presence felt when he returned to the lineup, consistently chasing Brissett around Raymond James Stadium.

“I think it was his presence as far as the speed off the edge,” defensive pass game coordinator George Edwards said. “The threat of some of the things we could do with him with his athleticism and his skill set, whether it’s rushing, dropping and all those types of things. He kind of adds that to us defensively as we get him back in the flow of things starting last week. He’ll continue to progress and move forward.”

The Bucs haven’t had a player reach double digits in sacks in a season since Shaquil Barrett had 10 in 2021. Diaby’s goal is to break that drought this season.

“Just taking it one game at a time,” he said. “I’m looking for the best way I can help this team and, you know, sacks comes with that. For me, it’s just working hard at practice every day and let it translate in the game.”

Up next

vs. Saints, 1 Sunday, Raymond James Stadium TV/radio: CBS; 97.9-FM Line/OU: Bucs by 8 ½; 41 ½

• • •

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