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• T&T suffer first half blitz in 0-6 defeat to Mexico in League A

  Six goals in the first half propelled Mexico to a commanding 6-0 victory against Trinidad and Tobago in Group A of League A of the Road to the Concacaf Women's Gold Cup on Tuesday night at the Estadio Hidalgo in Pachuca, Mexico.

  With the win, Mexico now sits in first place in the group with six points through two matches, while Trinidad and Tobago remain on zero points after one game.

  Mexico wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard, as Maria Sanchez scored for the second game in a row by stabbing home a cross from Scarlett Camberos before the three-minute mark for a 1-0 lead.

  Greta Espinoza quickly doubled the advantage to 2-0 in the 10th when Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Kimika Forbes spilled a long-range shot, allowing Espinoza to stroke home the rebound.

  Mexico then made it 3-0 in the 19th with a sparkling goal in transition that saw Alicia Cervantes polish off the counterattack with a right-footed laser into net.

  A long-distance effort from Alexia Delgado that rolled off the fingertips of Forbes and into goal extended it to 4-0 in the 25th, followed by Charlyn Corral turning in a blocked shot in the 39th for a 5-0 lead.

  Corral was instrumental again in the 42nd, sending in a cross that allowed that was tapped home by Cervantes to stretch it to 6-0.

  With the six-goal advantage, Mexico could play to their liking and patiently wait to carve out any further scoring chances. However, the Trinidad and Tobago defence held firm in the second 45, leading to the 6-0 final.

• I’ve waited my whole life for this – Rosie Eccles ready to seize Olympic chance

  Rosie Eccles believes the heartbreak of missing out on a place at the Tokyo Olympics will stand her in good stead when she finally realises a long-held boxing ambition in Paris next year.

  The 27-year-old from Cardiff was denied a second shot at reaching the delayed 2020 Games when Covid forced the cancellation of the second qualifier in London, and three personal bouts with the illness left her fearing the “curse” could strike again.

  But, after fighting back to clinch Commonwealth gold for Wales in Birmingham last year, Eccles belatedly booked her place at the Games in June when she won a bronze medal at the European Games in Krakow.

  Eccles told the PA news agency: “I’ve really had to do it the hard way, and just when I thought I was in the clear I got Covid again, so it felt like I was cursed and history was going to repeat itself.

  “I was absolutely heartbroken to miss out on Tokyo and it’s been a real monkey on my back for a long time. But I showed at the Commonwealths that I had that grit to come back and get the medal in tough circumstances, and that shows I have plenty of self-belief.”

  Eccles has dreamed of going to the Olympics since her first boxercise class in 2011, one year before the likes of Nicola Adams and Katie Taylor helped boost the profile of the women’s sport at London 2012.

  “I already had a massive ambition to go to the Olympics and watching the likes of Nicola Adams just confirmed it,” added Eccles.

  “I’ve always been a huge fan of the Olympics, I remember sitting down when I was younger and watching the likes of Kelly Holmes. But boxing made me realise that this is my sport and this is where I want to be, and about a decade later it’s finally happened.”

  Having overcome her Covid setbacks, Eccles underscored her potential for Paris by coming through a tough draw in Krakow, including a notable win over Ireland’s world champion Amy Broadhurst to effectively seal her place.

  She will have the added bonus in the French capital of a change to the Olympic weights, which means she will be able to fight in her favoured 66kg category, rather than the 70kg division in which she won her gold medal in Birmingham.

  “It’s my natural weight and it’s really going to benefit me,” added Eccles. “I’m ready to go out and achieve what I know I can achieve. I’ve waited my whole life for this bit. I’ve had plenty of ups and downs, but all that heartache is only going to help.”

• Caroline Dubois looking for ‘spectacular knockout’ against Magali Rodriguez

  Caroline Dubois believes she has the tools to beat Mexican Magali Rodriguez and has set her sights on a spectacular knockout when the pair meet at York Hall.

  The 7-0-0 Dubois returns to the ring on Saturday after three months away as she continues her bid to become a world champion.

  The unbeaten 22-year-old credited the experienced 22-6-4 Rodriguez and will look to put a marker down with another impressive victory in London.

  “She’s fought some good names (Rodriguez) and top fighters and got a knockdown in her draw against Estelle Yoka-Mossely, who was Olympic champion,” Dubois told the PA news agency.
  
  “Rodriguez is tough and experienced and has had more fights than me at this level.
  
  “I’ve got advantages in speed, the skill, the ability and it’s just about how I put it together on the night .
  
  “She’s durable, she’s never been stopped, she’s tough, she knows how to take punches and ride them and how to manoeuvre through the rounds. She can cope during rounds because of her experience
  
  “I’m looking for a win; I’m lying if I’m saying I don’t want to go out and get a spectacular knockout so it’s up to Magali and me.

  “I want to put a good stamp down and impress a lot of people and open their eyes to Caroline Dubois.”
  
  The Briton went the distance for the first time since her professional debut in her last bout against Yanina Lescano.

  And Dubois, who is competing for the vacant IBO lightweight title this weekend, welcomed the experience of extra rounds while highlighting her dangerous knockout record.

  “Lescano was really tough, she’s maybe someone who would not beat world champions but she could compete with world champions at my weight and give them trouble as well,” Dubois, who has won five of her seven bouts by knockout, added.

  “I was able to go out there and win and know that I was able to hurt her in the later rounds and that I had the ability to overwhelm her and beat her easily really.

  “Definitely (good to get experience of longer fights). At the time it was a bit frustrating but this is what will pay dividends in the times I’m in a hard fight because I know I can do 10 rounds and get through it.
  
  “It’s been every fight except two and I’m happy with it. For me to get knockouts in 10 two-minute rounds is pretty insane when you think of it.

  
  “It’s massive and so important. I can outbox someone but I’ve also got that factor where I can hurt them and take them out too.”
  
  Dubois relishes her York Hall return and praised the support of Sky Sports who will broadcast the fight
  
  She said: “It’s crazy and it’s amazing.

  “I’ve always been with Sky so maybe I don’t appreciate it as much as I should do because some people who turn pro don’t get the backing of Sky network.”