Latest news with #KO
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jin Sasaki's vicious knockout defeat to Brian Norman Jr. epitomizes the brutal reality of combat sports
Jin Sasaki took a beating before getting knocked out in the fifth round of his fight vs. Brian Norman Jr. (Photo courtesy Naoki Fukuda/Top Rank) Jin Sasaki was awake in a hospital bed Thursday night with no visible signs of brain damage. It appears to be positive news, but ask Sasaki how he ended up being stretchered in an ambulance to a local hospital, and he wouldn't have a clue. Advertisement That is because Sasaki is reportedly suffering from around six weeks of memory loss. Not only can the Japanese welterweight not remember his brutal KO loss to Brian Norman Jr. on Thursday for the WBO world title, but he also cannot recall anything that happened this past month or for the majority of May either. That is the brutal reality of boxing — and indeed of combat sports. On one end of the spectrum, you have a 24-year-old American world champion ascending into a boxing star. On the other, there's a 23-year-old who doesn't know where he is or why he's there. Sasaki was floored twice in the opening round by Norman Jr. It was clear within 90 seconds of the fight that Norman was the superior boxer, and Sasaki's chances of winning the fight were slim, at best. The writing was on the wall, and the bout should've been stopped there and then, but Sasaki and his training team were too proud to lose in that fashion in Sasaki's first world title challenge in his home city of Tokyo. Instead, Sasaki fought fire with fire, trading with the smarter and stronger Norman Jr. He smiled at the conclusion of Round 1 when he went back to his corner; he seemed happy to be involved in a fight that he couldn't really win. Advertisement Sasaki continued to absorb heavy punishment from Norman. He nodded his head, acknowledging that Norman was hurting him with power punches, and even spoke to Norman during the action in Round 3, imploring the champion to continue attempting to finish him with big shots, as Norman's current output wasn't enough to deter Sasaki from coming forward — or so he claimed. Norman continued to put a beating on Sasaki, landing heavy artillery to the challenger's face and visibly forcing him off his stance. In Round 5, however, it all came to a sensational end. Norman landed a devastating left hook that saw Sasaki's head concerningly thump onto the canvas, with the boxer flat on his back for over a minute after the punch landed. Norman refused to celebrate after landing the best shot of his career. There was grave concern for Sasaki's well-being in the immediate aftermath of the knockout, with Sasaki's team and ringside doctors crowding his still body in the ring. It was an avoidable end to a brutal fight. Advertisement The bottom line: Fighters need saving from themselves. Every shot Sasaki took after the second knockdown in the first round was unnecessarily taking time off his career — and potentially even his life. Sasaki is a young fighter who could reach the top level of the sport again. He did not need to absorb the potentially life-changing punishment that he received on Thursday. It remains to be seen whether Sasaki will ever be the same fighter. He might not be, and he only has his corner team — the people whose job it is to look after his best interests — to blame for that.
Forbes
2 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
10 Biggest KOs Of Manny Pacquiao's Legendary Career
LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 11: (C) Boxer Manny Pacquiao (Photo by) On July 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao will return to the ring to challenge WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios for his title. Even the biggest Pacquiao fan can admit, the odds are against the newly inducted Hall-of-Famer to pull off the win against a man who is 16 years his junior, but most are interested enough to tune in to see. In the event Pacquiao's last spectacular KO is behind him, here is a look at the 10 most important KOs of his career. Pacquiao's KO win over Hatton is his most viral win. Hatton came into the fight undefeated at 140 pounds. His all-out assault style was seemingly tailor-made for Pacquiao, who destroyed the popular UK fighter with a devastating left hand. The second-round KO left Hatton unconscious in a heap, and it became perhaps Pacquiao's most memorable win. In a one-sided rout, Pacquiao dismantled the Mexican legend. The stoppage in the 11th round was a merciful one from Barrera's corner. Pacquiao wasn't considered a favorite heading in, so his domination was a shock that served notice a new superstar was on the scene. After Morales handed Pacquiao one of his early defeats, the rematch was all Manny. Despite having felt Morales' power in the first fight, Pacquiao pressured the Mexican legend, punished him, and eventually broke him down in the 10th. Pacquiao added another notch to his belt by doing something to Morales no one had ever seen. Despite stepping up to welterweight, Pacquiao dismantled Cotto, one of the division's best at the time. As usual, Cotto was brave in defeat, but Pacquiao's overall skill set was too much for the proud Puerto Rican. Pacquiao finished the deal in the 12th and final round. Back in 2001, most fans didn't know Pacquiao's name. However, when he stepped in on late notice to face Ledwaba, things began to change. Pacquiao didn't just win—he obliterated the champ with a nonstop attack, earning the IBF super bantamweight title in his U.S. debut. In Pacquiao's first fight at lightweight, he completely outclassed Diaz to win the WBC title. Diaz was no slouch, as many who remember him can attest. Still, a surgical and relentless Pacquiao carved him up with speed and accuracy, capping it with a stoppage in the 9th. Solis came into the fight unbeaten, and he was supposed to be a serious test for Pacquiao. That wasn't the case, as Pacquiao slammed his way past Solis in one of the more vintage Pacquiao stoppages of the Filipino's historic career. A two-punch combination ended the fight, and Pacquiao passed the test with flying colors. Pacquiao destroyed Battery with a memorable uppercut. Aside from the KO against Hatton, this is arguably Pacquiao's most savage KO. Pacquiao was rebounding from his loss to Morales in their first meeting, and he needed to make a statement. Unfortunately for Velazquez, he was in the wrong fight against the wrong guy at the wrong time. Despite Velazquez's durability, Pacquiao broke him down and got the stoppage win. This one only took three rounds, but it's all Pacquiao needed to smash his way past Lucero. For some reason, Lucero thought it wise to engage Pacquiao in a slugfest. That didn't go over well. Are the glory days over? Probably, but we'll still watch the legend tangle with Barrios and hope–at the very least–he comes out unscathed.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
50% Downside For Coca-Cola Stock?
Coca Cola cans are pictured in a supermarket in Bayonne, New Jersey, on April 8, 2025. (Photo by ... More CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images) Coca-Cola stock (NYSE:KO) has risen 15% this year, surpassing the S&P 500, which has increased by 2%. This remarkable rally prompts a vital question for investors: Is KO stock currently overpriced, and is it possible that it could face a significant correction, perhaps by 25-30% or even 50% to below $40? Well, here's the concern – at around $70 per share, KO stock seems costly. It is trading at 29 times its earnings from the past twelve months. To illustrate, this results in an earnings yield of merely 3.4%. For context, Google, which leads the search market with an average revenue growth of 10% in recent years, trades at a lower multiple of 19 times earnings. Coca-Cola's average revenue growth of just about 2% over the last three years is insufficient to justify such a high multiple. The price you pay is significant. We have developed the Trefis High-Quality Portfolio with a focus on relative valuation. Notably, HQ has achieved a return of over 91% since its inception, outperforming the S&P, Nasdaq, and Dow — all of them. Separately, take a look at – Should You Buy CRWV Stock After A Whopping 4x Rise? The current valuation of Coca-Cola is influenced by strong organic sales growth, which saw a 6% year-over-year increase in the last quarter. This growth stems from several key factors: increasing sales volumes, effective pricing strategies, and successful revenue growth management. Additionally, the company's initiatives to enhance cold drink equipment deployment and optimize its brand portfolio towards higher-margin products are further propelling its growth. In addition to top-line growth, Coca-Cola has also achieved margin expansion. Its operating margin has notably risen from 28% in 2022 to a respectable 30% in the last twelve months, indicating improved operational efficiency and profitability. While Coca-Cola's organic revenue growth is expected to stay within the mid-single digits, its margin expansion is not anticipated to continue at the same rate. This implies that Coca-Cola's valuation should be more aligned with other companies experiencing 5-10% revenue growth. For example, consider Block Inc., which trades at about 15 times earnings and enjoys a 13% average annual growth rate. Compared to this, Coca-Cola's current valuation appears inflated. If Coca-Cola were valued at Block's multiple of 15 times earnings, its stock price would hover around $40 per share. This raises an essential question for investors: does Coca-Cola's growth profile even justify a lower multiple than that? Despite worries about market saturation, Coca-Cola's performance is closely tied to global economic growth, increasing disposable incomes, and population growth, particularly in emerging markets. A robust economy, supported by stabilizing inflation and renewed consumer confidence, could significantly enhance discretionary spending and out-of-home consumption. This uptick in economic activity directly results in higher demand across all channels. Notably, increased per-capita consumption in developing markets also propels demand for the company's high-margin concentrate business, which is its most profitable segment. Moreover, under volatile market conditions, Coca-Cola frequently acts as a 'safe haven' investment. During periods of uncertainty, such as looming trade tariffs and geopolitical tensions, investors often gravitate towards stable, established companies with predictable earnings. This heightened demand for safety can lead to increased valuations, even for firms with more modest growth expectations. Comparing Coca-Cola with companies like Google and Block is not about finding direct substitutes, but rather about comprehending the relative appeal and risk-reward dynamics of an investment. When evaluating KO, investors ought to contrast its potential returns against alternatives like holding cash (earning interest) or investing in a broad market ETF like the S&P 500. Utilizing 'anchor' assets like Google and Block, which trade at comparatively low multiples, offers a vital perspective on the risk-reward profile of KO. These comparisons assist investors in determining whether the anticipated return on KO stock justifies the associated downside risk, especially since these anchor stocks present more compelling growth stories. This analytical method is essential for making informed investment choices. Regardless of the trade-off, investing in a single stock can be risky. On the flip side, the Trefis High Quality (HQ) Portfolio, comprising 30 stocks, has shown a track record of comfortably outperforming the S&P 500 over the past four years. What accounts for this? Collectively, HQ Portfolio stocks have delivered superior returns with reduced risk in comparison to the standard index, with a more stable performance evident in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
2 Unstoppable Dow Dividend Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever
Microsoft has too many strengths, from AI to cloud computing, and a wide moat. Coca-Cola's brand name grants it a significant advantage. Both market leaders have robust businesses and impeccable dividend programs. 10 stocks we like better than Microsoft › The iconic Dow Jones is the worst-performing of the three major U.S. indexes this year; it is slightly in the red as of this writing. However, some Dow stocks have performed well, especially considering the significant volatility broader equities have experienced. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) are among those corporations on the Dow Jones that are breaking ranks (so to speak) with their Dow peers. It wouldn't be wise to invest in these companies just because of their performance since the beginning of 2025. Even corporations with unimpressive prospects can sometimes beat the market for a mere six months. However, focusing on Microsoft and Coca-Cola's underlying businesses helps reveal why they are excellent buy-and-hold options for long-term investors. Read on to find out more. Although Microsoft started the year on a sour note, more recent developments have given the stock new life, and shares are up by 11% year to date. Looking at the company's results for the third quarter of its fiscal 2025, ending on March 31, should give long-term investors plenty of hope. It's not just because it reported solid top- and bottom-line numbers; the most promising segment also continues to make headway. Microsoft Azure, the company's cloud unit, recorded revenue growth of 33% for the period. The tech leader's total revenue increased by a far more modest (but still strong) 13% year over year to $70.1 billion. Azure is second only to Amazon Web Services in this industry and has been gaining ground on its competitor. Moreover, artificial intelligence (AI) is helping to improve the segment, and that's where the company's most obvious long-term opportunity lies. Also, Microsoft benefits from a wide moat thanks to switching costs within its cloud unit and its suite of productivity tools, as well as its strong brand name. The company also generates significant free cash flow. Though its trailing-12-month free cash flow has declined by 6.4% compared to this time last year, $69.4 billion is nothing to sneeze at. Microsoft's consistent profit and ability to generate cash have typically enabled it to reinvest in the business and pursue other lucrative opportunities, even as some of its former fast-growing segments mature. Expect much of the same in the future. Another aspect that makes Microsoft attractive to long-term investors is its balance sheet. It has the highest credit rating available from S&P Global, even higher than that of the U.S. government. Lastly, the tech giant is a strong dividend stock. Its forward yield isn't impressive at 0.7%, but it has raised its payouts by 167.7% in the past 10 years. Microsoft combines growth and dividends, and it looks like a reliable stock to hold on to for good. Coca-Cola has performed relatively well for most of the year, perhaps because of the perception that consumer staples stocks are worth owning when the economy tanks. There is also the fact that the beverage leader might be able to handle President Donald Trump's trade policies (if they stick around beyond his administration) better than most. Coca-Cola markets its products in most countries, but it does most of the manufacturing for each region locally. So, there won't be a significant impact of tariffs on its financial results. That means the company is somewhat likely to navigate the current situation rather well, and the stock also has important strengths that make it a top long-term pick. Perhaps the most important is brand power. Companies with valuable brand names benefit from high customer trust and loyalty, pricing power, and other perks. Coca-Cola fits the bill -- most people worldwide easily recognize its famous logo. It also owns plenty of other, smaller brands, many of which are popular in their own niches. Strong brands give it the flexibility to adjust its product portfolio according to changing tastes and preferences. If an unknown company introduces a new drink, it typically requires significant marketing and advertising before it becomes widely consumed. A company like Coca-Cola has far less work to do to get to that goal. And here's another advantage of brand power: It doesn't have to fight for shelf space in grocery stores. For newcomers in the field, getting into major retail places is a significant accomplishment. For Coca-Cola, it's a given. Store owners know its brands will sell well. All of these factors make the business reliable and capable of performing well over the long term. The company's dividend track record also provides evidence of that. It has raised its payouts for 63 consecutive years, making it a Dividend King. Its 2.8% yield is higher than the S&P 500's average of 1.3%. Coca-Cola isn't the most exciting stock on the market, but the company's stable underlying operations make it a top forever pick. Before you buy stock in Microsoft, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Microsoft wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $653,702!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $870,207!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 988% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Microsoft, and S&P Global. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2 Unstoppable Dow Dividend Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever was originally published by The Motley Fool
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
2 Unstoppable Dow Dividend Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever
Microsoft has too many strengths, from AI to cloud computing, and a wide moat. Coca-Cola's brand name grants it a significant advantage. Both market leaders have robust businesses and impeccable dividend programs. 10 stocks we like better than Microsoft › The iconic Dow Jones is the worst-performing of the three major U.S. indexes this year; it is slightly in the red as of this writing. However, some Dow stocks have performed well, especially considering the significant volatility broader equities have experienced. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) are among those corporations on the Dow Jones that are breaking ranks (so to speak) with their Dow peers. It wouldn't be wise to invest in these companies just because of their performance since the beginning of 2025. Even corporations with unimpressive prospects can sometimes beat the market for a mere six months. However, focusing on Microsoft and Coca-Cola's underlying businesses helps reveal why they are excellent buy-and-hold options for long-term investors. Read on to find out more. Although Microsoft started the year on a sour note, more recent developments have given the stock new life, and shares are up by 11% year to date. Looking at the company's results for the third quarter of its fiscal 2025, ending on March 31, should give long-term investors plenty of hope. It's not just because it reported solid top- and bottom-line numbers; the most promising segment also continues to make headway. Microsoft Azure, the company's cloud unit, recorded revenue growth of 33% for the period. The tech leader's total revenue increased by a far more modest (but still strong) 13% year over year to $70.1 billion. Azure is second only to Amazon Web Services in this industry and has been gaining ground on its competitor. Moreover, artificial intelligence (AI) is helping to improve the segment, and that's where the company's most obvious long-term opportunity lies. Also, Microsoft benefits from a wide moat thanks to switching costs within its cloud unit and its suite of productivity tools, as well as its strong brand name. The company also generates significant free cash flow. Though its trailing-12-month free cash flow has declined by 6.4% compared to this time last year, $69.4 billion is nothing to sneeze at. Microsoft's consistent profit and ability to generate cash have typically enabled it to reinvest in the business and pursue other lucrative opportunities, even as some of its former fast-growing segments mature. Expect much of the same in the future. Another aspect that makes Microsoft attractive to long-term investors is its balance sheet. It has the highest credit rating available from S&P Global, even higher than that of the U.S. government. Lastly, the tech giant is a strong dividend stock. Its forward yield isn't impressive at 0.7%, but it has raised its payouts by 167.7% in the past 10 years. Microsoft combines growth and dividends, and it looks like a reliable stock to hold on to for good. Coca-Cola has performed relatively well for most of the year, perhaps because of the perception that consumer staples stocks are worth owning when the economy tanks. There is also the fact that the beverage leader might be able to handle President Donald Trump's trade policies (if they stick around beyond his administration) better than most. Coca-Cola markets its products in most countries, but it does most of the manufacturing for each region locally. So, there won't be a significant impact of tariffs on its financial results. That means the company is somewhat likely to navigate the current situation rather well, and the stock also has important strengths that make it a top long-term pick. Perhaps the most important is brand power. Companies with valuable brand names benefit from high customer trust and loyalty, pricing power, and other perks. Coca-Cola fits the bill -- most people worldwide easily recognize its famous logo. It also owns plenty of other, smaller brands, many of which are popular in their own niches. Strong brands give it the flexibility to adjust its product portfolio according to changing tastes and preferences. If an unknown company introduces a new drink, it typically requires significant marketing and advertising before it becomes widely consumed. A company like Coca-Cola has far less work to do to get to that goal. And here's another advantage of brand power: It doesn't have to fight for shelf space in grocery stores. For newcomers in the field, getting into major retail places is a significant accomplishment. For Coca-Cola, it's a given. Store owners know its brands will sell well. All of these factors make the business reliable and capable of performing well over the long term. The company's dividend track record also provides evidence of that. It has raised its payouts for 63 consecutive years, making it a Dividend King. Its 2.8% yield is higher than the S&P 500's average of 1.3%. Coca-Cola isn't the most exciting stock on the market, but the company's stable underlying operations make it a top forever pick. Before you buy stock in Microsoft, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Microsoft wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $653,702!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $870,207!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 988% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 172% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 9, 2025 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Prosper Junior Bakiny has positions in Amazon. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Microsoft, and S&P Global. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2 Unstoppable Dow Dividend Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever was originally published by The Motley Fool Sign in to access your portfolio
