Tyson Fury's rematch with Oleksandr Usyk will take place in Riyadh on December 21, according to the chair of Saudi Arabia's general entertainment authority Turki Alalshikh.

Earlier this month, Usyk beat Fury by virtue of a split decision to become the first undisputed world heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis held the WBC, WBA and IBF belts from November 1999 to April 2000.

It was the first defeat of Fury's professional career, with two judges scoring the fight 115-112 and 114-113 in favour of Usyk, and the third scoring it 114-113 to Fury.

Fury subsequently described it as "one of the daftest decisions in boxing" and said a second bout would take place in October, with both fighters confirmed as holding a rematch clause in advance of the first fight.

That date has now been pushed back, but Fury will get a chance to avenge his loss in December.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Alalshikh wrote: "The rematch... is now scheduled on the 21 of December 2024 during Riyadh Season.

"The world will watch another historical fight again. Our commitment to boxing fans continues. We hope you enjoy it."

On Tuesday, Fury's promoter Frank Warren told Sky Sports he was confident the Gypsy King would bounce back. 

"I spoke to him [Fury] after the fight and obviously when he got back just to make sure he's okay. He was very disappointed but very philosophical," Warren said.

"It was a fabulous fight, two absolute gladiators who didn't leave anything in the ring in an epic fight, the most important fight of the 21st century. It was a very, very close fight and I think it will be an even bigger one next time."

Bournemouth have made Enes Unal's stay at the Vitality Stadium permanent, with the striker signing a four-year contract after a productive loan spell with the club.

Unal arrived on loan from Getafe in January and made 16 Premier League appearances throughout the second half of 2023-24.

While he largely served as a deputy to star striker Dominic Solanke, Unal did manage two goals as Bournemouth finished 12th, just one point adrift of a top-half finish.

Unal's first Premier League goal was a stoppage-time equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Sheffield United in March, while he was also on target in a 3-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion in late April. 

Bournemouth set a new top-flight club record by earning 48 points in their first season under Andoni Iraola, enjoying a dramatic upturn after failing to win any of the Spaniard's first nine league games at the helm.

Unal – who missed the first half of 2023-24 with a cruciate ligament tear – told the Cherries' website: "I enjoyed testing myself in the Premier League while regaining my fitness. I am really excited for the years ahead."

Anthony Edwards credited Karl-Anthony Towns after he halted his slump to keep the Minnesota Timberwolves alive in their Western Conference finals series against the Dallas Mavericks.

Towns scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half as Minnesota held off a late Dallas rally for a 105-100 road win, forcing a Game 5 in Minneapolis on Thursday.

That came after a difficult start to the series for the four-time All-Star, with coach Chris Finch saying it was "hard to watch" his struggles in Game 3.

Towns shot just 27.8 per cent in the series' first three games, but was 9 of 13 from the floor and made 4 of 5 from 3-point range on Tuesday.

Edwards, who narrowly missed out on a triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists, said Towns was the primary reason the Timberwolves retained hope of an NBA Finals berth. 

"Everything came together for him; he was super confident," Edwards said of Towns. 

"He played exceptionally well, and he came through big-time. He was the reason we won tonight."

Finch echoed Edwards' praise, saying: "KAT's a great player. His struggles were not going to last forever. He got himself going. 

"Even when he got deep in foul trouble, we left him out there, just let him roll, and he played smart, played under control, rebounded really well for us, executed defensively. We're really proud of him. Tonight was a great step for him."

While it was Towns' efforts that gave Minnesota a lead to defend, it was Edwards who made certain of the victory with a mid-range jumper after the Mavs pulled within three points just over a minute before the buzzer. 

Towns, who fouled out with one minute and 38 seconds on the clock, said of his team-mate's game-sealing shot: "I was on the bench and had a front-row seat. I feel like he was visualising that make and he got to exactly the spot he wanted to.

"I'm honoured to be playing with my brother here, seeing him every day put the work in, and I knew when he got to that shot it was a high likelihood he was going to make that."

Tottenham have agreed another loan deal with RB Leipzig for Timo Werner to remain at the club for 2024-25, with the club holding an option to make the move permanent next year.

Werner joined Spurs on loan in January and immediately assumed an important role in Ange Postecoglou's team, contributing two goals and three assists in 14 appearances in all competitions.

He saw his season ended prematurely by a hamstring injury in May, but Tottenham always appeared keen to keep him at the club for next season.

Postecoglou's side will play in the Europa League in 2024-25 after finishing fifth in the Premier League, and Werner will be an option across the frontline again next season.

Reports suggest Tottenham could have made the move permanent this year for £15million, but the extended loan deal includes a buy clause estimated at £8.5million.

Richarlison has described reports suggesting he is unhappy at Tottenham as "fake news", insisting he will still be playing in the Premier League next season.

Richarlison enjoyed a vastly improved season in 2023-24, scoring 11 Premier League goals after only netting once in his first campaign with Spurs in 2022-23.

However, injuries prevented the Brazil international from finishing the campaign strongly and reports have suggested Spurs are in the market for a new striker.

They have also agreed to bring Timo Werner back from RB Leipzig on another season-long loan deal with a view to a permanent move.

Some had suggested Richarlison could be a victim of an overhaul as Ange Postecoglou looks to put his stamp on the squad, but the former Everton man says he is going nowhere.

In a post to X, Richarlison wrote: "I gave up my vacation and came to work in Sao Paulo so I could return well and ready for the next season. 

"I never said I was dissatisfied at my club, and everything that has been coming out in the media here about negotiations is fake news. 

"I don't know where they got that from! I won't leave England next season!"

The Los Angeles Dodgers got sterling pitching performances from Tyler Glasnow and Gavin Stone as they swept a double-header against the New York Mets on Tuesday and snapped a five-game losing streak.

In the opener, the Dodgers rallied late, and Freddie Freeman hit a two-run homer off Jorge Lopez in the 10th inning for a 5-2 win.

The Dodgers trailed 2-0 most of the game until Freeman’s single in the eighth inning drove in Andy Pages. Teoscar Hernandez scored the tying run in the ninth after a well-placed Chris Taylor bunt.

Glasnow gave up a home run to Francisco Lindor in the third but pitched seven innings, allowing two hits and two runs with eight strikeouts.

Mets starter Tylor Megill pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits with nine strikeouts.

In the nightcap, Stone pitched a gem to improve to 5-2 after allowing three hits in seven scoreless innings.

Will Smith and Miguel Vargas backed Stone with solo home runs. Freeman added two more hits to finish the double-header 5 for 8.

Seager powers Rangers in World Series rematch

Corey Seager hit his seventh home run in as many games, Nathan Eovaldi returned from injury and the Texas Rangers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2 in a rematch of last year’s World Series.

Seager, the 2023 World Series MVP, hit a three-run blast off Brandon Pfaadt in the fifth inning to continue his tear. After a slow start to the season, Seager extended his hitting streak to 11 games, with a .480 on-base percentage in that span.

Eovaldi made his first start in nearly four weeks after being sidelined with a right groin strain. Instead of making a minor-league rehab start this week, Eovaldi pitched three innings against Arizona on Tuesday, allowing five hits and two runs.

Andrew Heaney, Grant Anderson, David Robertson and Kirby Yates pitched six scoreless out of the Texas bullpen to close the game.

The Rangers have won back-to-back games after a 2-12 slump.

Cubs lose no-hit bid, beat Brewers in extras

The Chicago Cubs carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning, then had an offensive explosion in extras to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-3 and snap a five-game losing streak.  

Rookie right-hander Ben Brown was pulled after seven hitless innings, allowing two walks and striking out 10 in 93 pitches.

Milwaukee’s Sal Frelick singled off Hayden Wesneski with one out in the eighth to break up the no-hit bid.

The Cubs held a 1-0 lead much of the night, thanks to a third-inning home run by Michael Busch, but the Brewers tied it with two outs in the ninth on a Willy Adames single that plated Christian Yelich.

Chicago responded with a five-run 10th inning, highlighted by Ian Happ’s two-run double off Hoby Milner.

The Los Angeles Dodgers got sterling pitching performances from Tyler Glasnow and Gavin Stone as they swept a double-header against the New York Mets on Tuesday and snapped a five-game losing streak.

In the opener, the Dodgers rallied late, and Freddie Freeman hit a two-run homer off Jorge Lopez in the 10th inning for a 5-2 win.

The Dodgers trailed 2-0 most of the game until Freeman’s single in the eighth inning drove in Andy Pages. Teoscar Hernandez scored the tying run in the ninth after a well-placed Chris Taylor bunt.

Glasnow gave up a home run to Francisco Lindor in the third but pitched seven innings, allowing two hits and two runs with eight strikeouts.

Mets starter Tylor Megill pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits with nine strikeouts.

In the nightcap, Stone pitched a gem to improve to 5-2 after allowing three hits in seven scoreless innings.

Will Smith and Miguel Vargas backed Stone with solo home runs. Freeman added two more hits to finish the double-header 5 for 8.

Seager powers Rangers in World Series rematch

Corey Seager hit his seventh home run in as many games, Nathan Eovaldi returned from injury and the Texas Rangers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2 in a rematch of last year’s World Series.

Seager, the 2023 World Series MVP, hit a three-run blast off Brandon Pfaadt in the fifth inning to continue his tear. After a slow start to the season, Seager extended his hitting streak to 11 games, with a .480 on-base percentage in that span.

Eovaldi made his first start in nearly four weeks after being sidelined with a right groin strain. Instead of making a minor-league rehab start this week, Eovaldi pitched three innings against Arizona on Tuesday, allowing five hits and two runs.

Andrew Heaney, Grant Anderson, David Robertson and Kirby Yates pitched six scoreless out of the Texas bullpen to close the game.

The Rangers have won back-to-back games after a 2-12 slump.

Cubs lose no-hit bid, beat Brewers in extras

The Chicago Cubs carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning, then had an offensive explosion in extras to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 6-3 and snap a five-game losing streak.  

Rookie right-hander Ben Brown was pulled after seven hitless innings, allowing two walks and striking out 10 in 93 pitches.

Milwaukee’s Sal Frelick singled off Hayden Wesneski with one out in the eighth to break up the no-hit bid.

The Cubs held a 1-0 lead much of the night, thanks to a third-inning home run by Michael Busch, but the Brewers tied it with two outs in the ninth on a Willy Adames single that plated Christian Yelich.

Chicago responded with a five-run 10th inning, highlighted by Ian Happ’s two-run double off Hoby Milner.

Sam Reinhart scored a power-play goal 1:12 into overtime, and the Florida Panthers beat the New York Rangers 3-2 to even the Eastern Conference final at two games apiece.

Reinhart, who led the NHL with 27 power-play tallies in the regular season, found himself alone in the slot while on the man advantage. Aleksander Barkov provided the primary assist, and Reinhart beat Igor Shesterkin on the glove side.

After scoring a career-high 57 goals in the regular season, Reinhart has added eight goals in the Stanley Cup playoffs, including four on the power play.

Carter Verhaeghe also scored on the man-advantage for Florida, with Sam Bennett providing the Panthers’ first goal of the night.

Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere scored for the Rangers, who won Games 2 and 3 in overtime. Shesterkin made 37 saves in the loss.

On Thursday, the series will shift back to New York, where the teams split the first two games of the East final.

Sam Reinhart scored a power-play goal 1:12 into overtime, and the Florida Panthers beat the New York Rangers 3-2 to even the Eastern Conference finals at two games apiece.

Reinhart, who led the NHL with 27 power-play tallies in the regular season, found himself alone in the slot while on the man advantage. Aleksander Barkov provided the primary assist, and Reinhart beat Igor Shesterkin on the glove side.

After scoring a career-high 57 goals in the regular season, Reinhart has added eight goals in the Stanley Cup playoffs, including four on the power play.

Carter Verhaeghe also scored on the man-advantage for Florida, with Sam Bennett providing the Panthers’ first goal of the night.

Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere scored for the Rangers, who won Games 2 and 3 in overtime. Shesterkin made 37 saves in the loss.

On Thursday, the series will shift back to New York, where the teams split the first two games of the East finals.

Anthony Edwards just missed a triple-double, Karl-Anthony Towns scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half and the Minnesota Timberwolves held on to beat the Dallas Mavericks 105-100 on Tuesday to avoid being swept in the Western Conference finals.

Facing a 3-0 series deficit on the road, the Wolves conjured their best defensive game of the series to force a Game 5 on Thursday night in Minneapolis.

Dallas’ Luka Dončić finished with 28 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists but was held to 7-for-21 shooting. Kyrie Irving shot 6 of 18 from the field to finish with 16 points.

“That game's on me. Just didn't give enough energy,” Dončić told reporters after the game. “They won one game. We've just got to focus on the next one.”

Towns, who shot 27.8 percent in the series’ first three games, was 9 of 13 from the floor and made 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Despite his redemptive performance on offence, Towns fouled out with 1:38 remaining after falling for a Dončić pump fake at the 3-point line.

Edwards was assertive from the opening tip, scoring 14 points in the first quarter, and finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

The Mavs pulled to within 100-97 with just over a minute remaining before Edwards hit a mid-range jumper to extend the Minnesota lead. On Dallas’ following possession, Kyle Anderson stole the ball from Irving to extinguish the threat.

The Mavericks played without standout rookie center Dereck Lively II due to a neck sprain after taking a rough fall in Game 3.

No team has ever come back from a 3-0 series lead, but the Wolves will hope to keep the pressure on Dallas in Game 5.