Ten things to know from last week. April 12-18, 2022: Spence won, the richest horse, Boston Marathon...
Five things to know from last week
  1. The Superfight is next? Errol Spence Jr. (USA) repeated that he wants the superfight with Terence Crawford (USA) next, as he beat Yordenis Ugás (CUB) in a 10-Round TKO to retain the WBC and IBF Welterweight titles, and win the WBA (Super) title. Crawford holds the WBO version. Earlier, Eimantas Stanionis became the first Lithuanian to win a World Championship, beating Radzhab Butaev (RUS) to win the “regular” WBA version of the Welterweight title.
  2. The Pitbull. Patrício Freire (BRA) successfully defended his Bellator Featherweight World Championship by defeating then-unbeaten A.J. McKee (USA) -who had submitted him last July- in a Unanimous Decision. It was a very good fight that could call for a third one. Earlier, Vadim Nemkov (RUS) retained his Light Heavyweight title but could not win the World Grand Prix, as his fight against Corey Anderson (USA) ended as a No-Contest after an accidental headbutt forced a fight stoppage.
  3. Hell of the North. Dylan van Baarle (NED) won the fastest-ever Paris-Roubaix, as he escaped with 19 km to go to finish the race in 5 hours, 52 minutes, and 21 seconds with a wattage average of 307 Watts, according to his Strava log. A minute and 47 seconds later came Wout van Aert (BEL), Stefan Küng (CHE), Tom Devriendt (BEL), and Matej Mohorič (SVN).
  4. Le Mans. The 24 Hour of Le Mans Moto was won for the second year in a row by the Yoshimura SERT Motul Suzuki (FRA) ridden by Gregg Black (FRA), Sylvain Guintoli (FRA), and Xavier Simeon (BEL). The Team 18 Sapeurs Pompiers CMS Motostore (FRA) was 4th Overall and 1st in the Superstock Trophy, with Hugo Clere, Baptiste Guittet, and Philipp Steinmayer (FRA). An accident in the traditional “run-to-the bike” race start sent Bradley Smith (ENG) to the hospital without serious injury. In a very different form of racing, NASCAR held its Bristol Dirt race, which was won by Kyle Busch (USA).
  5. De nouveau. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRC) won the Monte Carlo Masters for the second year in a row, after beating Alejandro Davidovich Fokin (ESP) by 6−3, 7–6(7–3). Eleven-time champion Rafael Nadal (ESP) did not compete due to a stress fracture in his rib. The doubles were won by Rajeev Ram (USA) and  Joe Salisbury (ENG).
  6. Playoff on the beach. Katrin Eckermann (DEU) won the CSI5* Longines Global Champions Tour event in Miami Beach riding 9-year-old Cala Mandia (DEU) in the mare’s first CSI5* start. Six starters made it to the play-off, where the winners were one second faster than Shane Sweetnam and Alejandro (IRL). Third were Gilles Thomas and Luna Van Het Dennehof (BEL). The Berlin Eagles won the Global Champions League event and are first on the standings. Ludger Beerbaum and Mila, and Christian Kukuk and Mumbai (DEU) ended with zero fault scores.
  7. The richest horse. Ishigami Shinichi and Oju Chosan (JPN) are making a case for one of the best horse/jockey teams of all time, as the eleven-year-old horse won a record-extending sixth Nakayama Grand Jump, all with Ishigami. He is now the richest jumper horse in history, having won almost 7 Million Euros, far ahead of any other horse.
  8. Grand Slam of Curling. Anna Hasselborg (SWE) became the first female Skip to win all four Major tournaments, completing the Grand Slam of Curling, as she and her team beat Team Kerri Einarson (CAN) 6-5 in the Final.
  9. 16 Majors. Paige Pierce (USA) won the PDGA Champions Cup in a playoff against Kristin Tattar (EST), who was leading play with one hole to go. With this result, Pierce has now won 16 Major titles, which ties her first place of all-time among female professional players, with Valarie Jenkins (USA).
  10. Boston Marathon. Peres Jepchirchir (KEN) continues her great dominance in the Marathon, after winning the New York Marathon, the Olympic Marathon, and now the Boston Marathon, within eight months. She beat Ababel Yeshaneh (ETH) in a Final fuel for the win, recording 2:21:01. Evans Chebet (2:06:51) led Lawrence Cherono and Benson Kipruto for a Kenyan sweep in the men’s race, after a great closing by the winner. Daniel Romanchuk (USA) and Manuela Schär (CHE) won the Wheelchair competitions.