Issa, Author at USA Trendz

Tiger Woods’ presence on the greens and fairways was sorely missed by the PGA Tour, which achieved a massive spike in ratings during his return to the course.

Over the weekend, Woods competed alongside his son, Charlie, in the PNC Championship in Orlando, Florida. The family affair marked his first time playing since undergoing a sixth surgery on his lower back in September.

Prior to the Father/Son Challenge, Woods’ last tournament appearance came at The Open Championship back in July. Over the last four seasons, he’s only managed to make 13 combined starts on the PGA Tour while battling a myriad of health setbacks.

Though Team Woods were ultimately forced to settle for second place behind Team Langer, the duo provided fans with several unforgettable moments throughout the weekend – perhaps no more memorable than Charlie’s first-ever hole-in-one on the par-3 fourth hole.

CELEB NEWS

United Cup to Launch Exciting New Season

TENNIS – The retirement of tennis legends Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Serena Williams has presented unique challenges for event organizers, but it’s an opportunity to spotlight emerging talent, according to the United Cup’s tournament director.

The highly-anticipated $10 million mixed team event gets underway this Friday, with tournament chief Stephen Farrow expressing optimism that the future of the sport looks bright.

“From a promotional perspective, having icons like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal certainly draws attention to events,” Farrow noted in an interview with Reuters following the recent draw for the 18-team tournament held in Sydney. “These athletes are phenomenal superstars, and with their departure, we face a tougher task in sharing the narratives of the new players stepping onto the court.”

Farrow, however, remains optimistic, remarking, “This presents a chance for all of us involved in tennis to shine a light on these promising talents. Our line-up for the United Cup is thrilling, and I am confident about the sport’s trajectory.”

CELEB NEWS

Djokovic eyes more Slam glory as Swiatek returns under doping cloud

Novak Djokovic is confident he can still win Grand Slams, starting at the Australian Open, with the Serbian kickstarting his bid for an unprecedented 11th title and record 25th major crown in Brisbane this week.

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, who is gunning for a third Melbourne Park trophy, joins him at the Queensland Tennis Centre from December 29-January 5 in a stellar women’s field.

The 2025 season gets under way on Friday with the mixed-teams United Cup in Perth and Sydney, headlined by world number two Iga Swiatek in her first tournament since revelations that she served a one-month doping suspension.

It is the first season since 37-year-old Djokovic began playing that none of the other so-called “Big Four” will be on the other side of the net following the retirements this year of Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.

BOXING

Is Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach canceled? Mass confusion as ‘Tank’ claims bout is toast, Oscar De La Hoya chimes in

WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis is scheduled to fight WBA super featherweight titleholder Lamont Roach as part of a special Prime Video pay-per-view (PPV) ctheir lightweight Prime Video pay-per-view card on Sat., March 1, 2025 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Davis later deleted the post, leaving Roach just as confused as fans.

“The f*ck ya keep asking me for? He said that sh*t not me,” Roach responded on social media. “I’m locked in, ain’t sh*t changed.”

Promoters have yet to comment on the cancellation drama.

“Gervonta give me a call if you need a fight,” Golden Boy head cheese Oscar De La Hoya wrote on Twitter. “I have the perfect guy for you.”

Davis (30-0, 28 KOs) is coming off an eighth-round knockout victory over Frank Martin earlier this year in Las Vegas. Prior to that, “Tank” flattened Ryan Garcia with a vicious body blow back in April 2023

BOXING

Should Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk retire? We asked BoxingScene’s writers

Tris Dixon: I don’t think either has anything left to prove, but the access to the Saudi riches they are able to attain will likely see neither walk away. Usyk made it clear, too, that he has no intention of hanging his gloves up. His legacy is solidified, and there’s no one he could beat at present that would add to it.

Boxing: Oleksandr Usyk beats Tyson Fury on points to retain unified heavyweight titles - India Today

Kieran Mulvaney: Usyk seems in no hurry to quit, and nor should he, even though he has nothing to prove. Fury will have to make the mental adjustment to being a supporting actor, and I’m not sure he can do that very well. Equally, however, he has an apparent desperate desire to be in the limelight, and many around him have stressed how miserable Fury is when he isn’t boxing, so I expect Fury to continue, too. Besides, although I thought the scorecards were accurate and Usyk was a clear winner, Fury was competitive and he’d probably start as the favorite against any other heavyweight – even though I think there are signs of a decline.

Lucas Ketelle: They both should, but they won’t. They are now more important and more viable than ever. They can make more money and be seen by more people than ever. They worked their whole lives to create this legacy, and now is the time when they reap the rewards. It felt as though both fighters had lost a step in the rematch, but Usyk is regarded as the best heavyweight since Lennox Lewis. Fury is a character who people are fascinated to see what he will do next.

CELEB NEWS

‘I played against Federer, Nadal and Djokovic – it’s clear who has the best tennis brain’

Alex de Minaur has played against all of the ‘Big Three’, but the Australian believes Roger Federer has the best brain in all of tennis.

De Minaur is flying high at sixth in the world, having reached the quarter-finals of the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open during an impressive 2024.

Billed as a future Grand Slam winner himself, De Minaur was quizzed on which players he’d pick to build a ‘perfect ATP tennis player’ ahead of the 2025 campaign.

Federer took the prize for having the ‘best tennis brain’, but there was no place in his ATP hybrid for Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic.

BOXING

Michael Bisping on Oleksandr Usyk beating Tyson Fury: ‘For once in boxing, they got it right’

UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping believes Tyson Fury has nothing left to prove after his second straight loss to Oleksandr Usyk.

Usyk retained his WBC, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles when he defeated Fury by unanimous decision this past Saturday in Saudi Arabia. For Bisping, Usyk won in much more definitive fashion after winning his first meeting against Fury by split decision seven months ago.

“Usyk, of course, was the better boxer,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel. “He was the more efficient boxer, he was landing more, missing less. Fury, of course, landed some good shots. He was ripping to the body with beautiful uppercuts, missed the uppercuts to the chin of Usyk just by millimeters. Some of those shots that Fury was throwing, if they had landed, he might have knocked him out in the final rounds. … There was certainly nothing bad about Tyson Fury.

BOXING

Ethan Page: Mike Tyson’s Words On Legacy Not Mattering Really Resonated With Me

Page spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard, who asked if there was anything from Page’s career that he wished fans talked about more. Page, a former NXT Champion, said he doesn’t have anything that comes to mind for a good reason.

“No,” Page stated. “And I’ll say that because the less people have seen, the more I can draw from past experiences or past. I can link it to like a standup comedian traveling around trying to perfect your act. If they’ve already heard the jokes, they’re not as funny when they hear them. So, I’m hoping not everyone has heard all my jokes. I can bust out a couple of jokes in NXT that I have been able to perfect over the years.”

Page said it’s not that he doesn’t care about what people think or say, but highlighted a recent interview with Mike Tyson for putting things in perspective. Tyson appeared on the Jazzy’s World podcast and said he doesn’t really believe in legacy and feels it’s more about ego.

“It means absolutely nothing to me. I’m just passing through,” Tyson told Jazzy. “I’m going to die and then it’s going to be over. Who cares about legacy after that?”

BOXING

Boxing drama ‘The Fire Inside’ transcends its sports biopic trappings

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) Synopsis: THE FIRE INSIDE is the inspirational true story of Claressa Shields, arguably the greatest female boxer of all time. Claressa, a high school Junior from Flint, Michigan, aided by her tough-love coach, Jason Crutchfield, pushes past all limitations to become the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing. But even at the pinnacle of success, Claressa has to reckon with the fact that not all dreams are created equal, and the real fight has only just begun..

Claressa Shields (Ryan Destiny) was met with opposition at every turn inside and outside of the boxing ring. The U.S.A. wasn’t a women’s boxing powerhouse. It would never be a woman’s boxing powerhouse. There’s no point in trying. Besides, girls should be in the kitchen, not the gym. Even her coach, Jason Crutchfield Brian Tyree Henry) wasn’t particularly interested or optimistic about training a female boxer. Claressa endured and fought with more than just a chip on her shoulder. She carried the weight of every woman who wanted to lace up a pair of boxing gloves.

And then success. How do you know when you’ve achieved it? Is it a metal or a trophy? Or is it a bank account brimming with endorsement money? When you are a trailblazer is burning the path enough?

CELEB NEWS

Lewis Hamilton’s Bodyguard Reveals Risks of Fame Amid Ferrari Move

As Lewis Hamilton prepares to don the iconic red of Ferrari in 2025, tales from his life as a global F1 icon have surfaced, highlighting the unique challenges of his stardom. One particularly striking revelation involves the extra precautions taken by his bodyguard while handling fan-made gifts—underscoring the risks that come with Hamilton’s massive worldwide fame

Hamilton, a seven-time Formula 1 champion and one of the most followed drivers on social media, enjoys unparalleled adoration from fans. At every Grand Prix, Hamilton is greeted with cheers and heartfelt tokens of appreciation, ranging from drawings and letters to teddy bears. However, these seemingly innocent gestures require careful scrutiny.

According to insights from a new Mercedes-focused book, Hamilton’s bodyguard must meticulously inspect every gift to ensure they are free of threats like trackers or other potentially harmful items. This was observed firsthand during the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix: