LOS ANGELES -- Canelo Alvarez shot back Friday at statements made by his most recent opponent, Sergey Kovalev, who suggested he took the Nov. 2 title bout against Alvarez for the paycheck despite a grueling schedule.

Alvarez scored an 11th-round knockout to grab Kovalev's light heavyweight world title at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Kovalev, who took the fight with Alvarez after defeating Anthony Yarde on Aug. 24, said recently that having two training camps so close together took a toll on his conditioning, causing him to have doubts about his chances against Alvarez.

Alvarez responded Friday by calling Kovalev a "bad boxer," saying that weight "has nothing to do with it."

"He's a bad loser," Alvarez told ESPN Deportes' A Los Golpes. "Weight is not an excuse. All fighters have to battle to make weight."

Alvarez also took issue with what he considered unfair criticism, including claims that his fights are fixed, but he conceded that it's all part of the business.

"The media takes things out of context," Alvarez said. "If you study boxing, you can give your point of view and know what you're talking about. There was no reason for that to bother me."

Alvarez has fought Gennady Golovkin twice, winning their second fight by majority decision after the first ended in a draw, and said he has no desire to see GGG inside the ring again.

"I don't want to fight with him. He doesn't mean anything to me anymore," Alvarez said. "I gave him 24 rounds, and that's that."

As for a potential rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr., who on Thursday night teased coming out of retirement in 2020, Alvarez said he has taken the only loss on his record to heart.

"I've imagined fighting him again, but more than a loss, that fight was a lesson," Alvarez said of his majority decision defeat to Mayweather in 2013. "I would love to [fight him again], and hopefully we can."

Boston Celtics point guard Kemba Walker has been diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms after being stretchered from the court late in the second quarter of Friday night's game in Denver. He was transported to the hospital for further evaluation, the team announced.

Walker ran head-first into the abdomen area of teammate Semi Ojeleye and immediately went to the ground. Early indications are that Walker did not suffer a significant injury in the collision, sources tell ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Walker grimaced in pain as he went down and play was stopped as medical personnel from both teams tended to the star guard who was on the floor for several minutes.

Walker's teammates gathered around as did Nuggets players. A brace was placed around his neck to stabilize the area and he was strapped to a backboard before being placed onto a gurney and wheeled off the court.

Walker entered the game averaging a team-leading 22.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in his first season with Boston.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Perth Scorchers have signed Chris Jordan, the England seamer, to complete their squad for this season's Big Bash.

Jordan, who was England's standout bowler in their T20I series in New Zealand, has previously had stints at Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Thunder, and joins compatriot Liam Livingstone in the squad. Both players will be available for the full season.

"Playing in Perth can be quite hostile [as an opposition player]," Jordan said. "Obviously it's a sea of orange and everyone is rooting for the Scorchers.

"I know from experience when the opposition hit a boundary in the stadium there's no noise, but when the Scorchers are up and about and doing well everyone's backing them to the hills… I'm looking forward to having some of that on my side.

"When the opportunity for Perth came up it was as pretty hard one to turn down, I know from playing against them how competitive they are, how successful they are so I'm really looking forward to joining such a great franchise."

Adam Voges said that Jordan provided an "all-round package" thanks to his brilliance in the field and lower-order hitting.

"We're really excited to have Chris on board," he said. "He's got great experience in T20 cricket and will do a terrific job with ball, particularly his skills at the death.

"He also provides the all-round package with athleticism in the field and strong batting skills which will be great for the fans. Chris is very professional and will fit in well in the Scorchers set-up. I haven't heard a bad word about him.

"We have a dynamic squad that covers all bases really well, some fresh faces and fan favourites returning… it's a squad that will be entertaining to watch."

The Scorchers will start the season without two of their fast bowlers, with Jason Behrendorff out for the season and Andrew Tye expected to miss most of the tournament with an elbow injury.

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones will defend his title against Dominick Reyes on Feb. 8 in Houston, UFC president Dana White told ESPN.

The 205-pound championship fight will headline the UFC's pay-per-view event, which does not yet have an official number, inside Toyota Center. In the co-main event, women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (18-3) will face No. 1 contender Katlyn Chookagian (13-2).

For Jones (25-1), it will mark his 15th appearance in a UFC title fight. Widely considered the greatest fighter of all time, Jones defended his title twice in 2019, via decision victories over Thiago Santos and Anthony Smith. The only loss of Jones' storied career came via disqualification in 2009, meaning he has never legitimately been defeated in competition.

Jones, who fights out of JacksonWink MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico, announced earlier this month on social media that he intended to face Reyes, stating "[I'm] beating his ass next."

Reyes (12-0) is an undefeated contender out of Southern California. He has earned a title shot by compiling a 6-0 record in the UFC, including a first-round knockout over former middleweight champion Chris Weidman in October.

Reyes, 29, has been fighting professionally since 2014. He has recorded finishes in nine of his 12 wins, including seven knockouts.

The Feb. 8 pay-per-view does not have a number because the UFC has not officially announced its schedule for the first quarter in 2020. The promotion is considering adding a pay-per-view event in January.

Rugby World Cup winner Faf de Klerk is arguably the most recognisable man from this year's tournament, so BBC Sport sat down with the South Africa scrum-half and bombarded him with as many quick-fire questions as we could in half-an-hour...

Only one place to start - those dressing-room photos after the Rugby World Cup final win over England. Why were you wearing pants with the South Africa flag on?

They are actually swimming trunks. The whole team were sent a pair with the South Africa flag on. I've been playing with them on for about three years. They are just really comfy.

Are they lucky pants?

Ha. I'd say they were lucky in terms of me getting to meet Prince Harry and raising awareness of testicular cancer - but I don't take things into the games that are lucky, like special pants or socks. I do think a lot of people would like to have them now, though.

Meeting Prince Harry in your pants must have been quite a strange experience.

There were actually quite a few of us in our underwear. I think he enjoyed the players just accepting him as one of the boys, not making any special arrangements for him. We had a nice chat and he was just a down-to-earth decent guy. It's always nice to see a person in such a position being down to earth.

We've seen your South Africa team-mates stripping down to their pants for the Faf Challenge - tell me about that.

A charity approached me to help raise awareness for testicular cancer and there are now some great photos of famous South Africans in their pants helping to spread the word. It's all about upping your ball skills!

The homecoming at the airport after you won the World Cup - Wow!

Yeah, we did not expect that. We expected a few, but not thousands. It was just so special. We felt bad just running through the crowds at the airport with police because we wanted to stop and greet everyone, but it's just impossible and we would never have get out of there. But it was very special, seeing what it meant to the people at home.

And what about the open top bus victory parade?

It was just insane. We obviously didn't get a sense of the support at home when we were in Japan. It felt like the whole country was out to support us that day, just to see a few guys on top of a bus waving at them. It was insane. I never expected it.

There is a clip of a boy crying, who threw his boot up to be signed, that must have been moving for you?

Yeah, but that's just one instance. That obviously meant a lot to him. Old people, young people, people of all races, crying, screaming, it was magical to see. There are a lot of troubles in South Africa, but that day, everybody just got along, and it felt like everything was perfect in South Africa. It was so special and I will always keep it with me.

You talk about the troubles and tensions in South Africa. Do you think the World Cup win will have a big impact on the country in that sense?

I really hope it does - but being ultra-critical, it probably won't. But what I know is that there are people in the right positions now, especially on the rugby side. With coach Rassie [Erasmus] going [back] to [concentrate full-time on his role as] director of rugby, he made us a promise that he'll make sure that things will move forward for the better. They are going to put a lot more work into developing rugby and giving opportunities to people who are not that privileged. The popularity of rugby definitely grew in South Africa over the World Cup, and sport has great power, so hopefully it will make some difference. Even if it's just 1%, it's a bit of a change.

You're always smiling, you've got lots of energy, and like being the centre of attention. Is this how you've always been, or is this just a recent thing?

I've always had lots of energy; it's just been about channelling it in the right way. I know I can be annoying, but that's just my way and hopefully more people than not like my personality. But I think it's good to have a fresh look on life, especially when the weather gets a bit grim over here.

Do you feel like a kid living out your dream?

That's exactly the best way to put it. We all say we enjoy playing rugby, but most guys don't really show it - and some guys I don't think actually enjoy it. So every time I arrive in the morning, I've always got a smile on my face. Once I lose that enjoyment, I will stop playing.

When you were younger, you were often overlooked because of your height - how did that feel?

It was disappointing but luckily I have great parents who have always supported me. South African rugby players are notoriously big and some coaches just got stuck in that mindset and decided I wouldn't make it because of my height and that was that. It didn't matter how big I got physically. But it just gave me the motivation to prove them wrong, as I've always believed in myself.

You made your Springboks debut in 2016 - when they had a dreadful year. You lost eight of your first 11 games, were sin-binned against Wales and then dropped. Did you think: That's it, I'm done - I'll never play for my country again?

There were a lot of problems within the squad, a lot of new players, a lot of new management - we never had structure; there wasn't clear direction as to how we should play. It's funny, though, because I always thought I'd be involved and that I was good enough. But being dropped gave me the opportunity to come to Sale.

When you joined Sale in 2017, the selection rules at the time meant you wouldn't be eligible for South Africa. Was it a hard decision?

No. I always wanted to play in the UK or France. I felt I was falling out of favour and then the opportunity came out of the blue, so I felt I had nothing to lose coming here but a lot to gain. I knew I couldn't play for the Springboks for the next two-and-a-bit years but I could be selected for the World Cup if I played well enough and that was always my goal.

What have you learned most from playing in England?

To adapt while the game is going on. The weather doesn't always allow you just to run with the ball. The wind might change, it might start raining. I learned the running game in South Africa and the more nitty gritty stuff over here, so I think I'm now well rounded when it comes to playing styles.

What's so special about Sale? It seems like one big family.

Dimes [Steve Diamond, Sale's director of rugby] is family orientated. He wants a tight-knit group. He wants to be involved in your life if you'd like him to be. The club really go out of their way to make it as comfortable as possible for us. We have socials, parties. If we play in France, they'll give us a few days off for team bonding. So we spend a lot of "off time" together.

I know you enjoy going to the countryside. Does that remind you of being in South Africa?

Yes definitely. I'd like to do it more often, but it's a case of weather permitting. We've been on some team bonding trips in the countryside - walking in the Lake District and shooting in the Peak District. I love nature, getting out there just relaxes you. I love being out in the open and the wild. It reminds me of home and grounds me a bit.

It must be really tough with your girlfriend being in South Africa?

Yeah, it's been really tough but finally we've decided that she's going to move here next year, which will make things easier. We usually meet up every four to six weeks and spend two weeks together. We message a lot and speak a lot over the phone; she's not too keen on FaceTime, but I force her to do it. We've obviously had some troubles over the two years as all couples do. She studied for six years to be a pharmacist, so she didn't just want to give it up. She would have to do another two-year course to carry on being a pharmacist in the UK - so if we decide to stay here longer, she'll do it, but to begin with she'll do something else.

What is your favourite English phrase?

"Simply lovely" is probably my favourite. That's quite nice; I like that one.

Any English traditions or habits you've picked up?

Coffee dates. The English are always going for a coffee. If a new coffee shop opens up, a few of us will go and check it out. I also drink a lot more tea since I've been here. I've had a few Sunday roasts but we also like a good roast in South Africa, so that's not so strange for me.

I understand your dad emails Sale's press officer asking for videos of all your games - is he your biggest fan?

Well, a lot of people tell me they are my biggest fan, ha! But him and my mother are for sure. They love to watch my games. Especially when I was a kid, they'd make so much effort to be at all my games. Even now as an adult, it means a lot for me for them to be there.

I know you're a man of meticulous detail. Are you a perfectionist?

No, I'm not a perfectionist. I just like to do a lot of work off the field. I watch our own matches to see how both myself and the team can improve, and I'll watch a few games to look at the number nine and 10 that I'm going to play against, looking at any weaknesses or strengths so once I go out there, I know what they are going to do.

Is it true you keep a notebook to help you prepare for games?

Yeah. On the bus on the way to the games, I'll read through my notebook and write down a few goals that I want to achieve in the game. It's something I've learned to do, and it definitely works, because if I pick up on something that I need to remember and I write it down, then when I read it on the day of the game, I don't forget it.

So you've won the World Cup and many think you're the best scrum-half in the world - where do you go next?

I love the game and I always want to improve. Just because you've won the World Cup, it doesn't mean you're the perfect player. There are always things to work on. In my eyes, I'll never be the best in something. We've got a lot of goals at Sale that we haven't reached yet. I want to win a Premiership and a Champions Cup. I also want to inspire kids to come to the club. Even if I won everything, I'd still want to improve. And maybe another World Cup in four years time, that would be amazing… if I'm still around! There's also the [British and Irish] Lions tour [to South Africa in 2021] coming up; that would be great if I get the opportunity to play in that.

I spotted on Twitter that someone had tweeted saying you look like Prince Charming from Shrek - do you get that a lot?

Ha. Yeah I get that a lot and also Lord Farquaad, the little guy from Shrek, just because he's short, but I don't think I look like him. But yeah, I get a few good memes from fans. They're funny and I think I've got a good sense of humour.

Finally what are your three pieces of advice for kids wanting to be the next Faf de Klerk?

1 - Don't let anyone get you down, no matter how negative they are towards you.

2 - Work really really hard. Even if you can do 1% more than the next guy... it might make things take a bit longer, but it'll be worth it.

3 - Believe in yourself. Constantly talk to yourself and tell yourself you can do it.

Faf de Klerk was speaking to BBC Sport's Henry Ditchfield.

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings have removed forward Givani Smith from injured reserve and assigned him to Grand Rapids of the AHL.

The Red Wings announced the move Friday.

The 21-year-old Smith has appeared in five games with the Red Wings this season. He also has three goals and four assists in 10 games for Grand Rapids.

Smith was a second-round draft pick by the Red Wings in 2016.

The Red Wings play at New Jersey on Saturday night.

New Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho wants to take the club led by England striker Harry Kane to the next level by winning trophies, which is why he said there's no way Spurs will sell their star man.

The much-travelled 56-year-old Portuguese was appointed as Spurs head coach on Wednesday the day after Pochettino, who spent 5-1/2 years in charge of the north London club, was sacked with his team struggling in 14th place in the Premier League.

However, the Argentine fan-favourite failed to deliver any silverware despite having a squad full of internationals and that is something Mourinho is determined to change as he prepares for the trip to West Ham United on Saturday.

Asked if he had to keep hold of Kane, ranked as the No. 2 striker in the ESPN FC 100, to bring success to Tottenham he told a group of reporters at the club's training ground: "When you try to buy Kane it's an impossible mission. He's one of the best strikers in the world.

"You just need his team -- England or Tottenham -- to go with him to the next level. What's the next level? Titles.

"I think he needs to win with us, with England, he needs to win something to highlight the quality that he has as a player, the goals he scores, what he brings to the team."

Kane, 26, has bagged 131 goals in 189 Premier League games for Spurs and has netted 32 in 45 matches for England.

"With the squad we have, with the quality of the structure of the club, we can have the same ambitions as clubs potentially bigger than us," added Mourinho. "I don't want my players to fear anything. We go for everything against everyone."

The Portuguese coach usually never stays too long in one job and only in his first spell at Chelsea did he reach a fourth season, though he was sacked in September 2007 after six games.

However, he said he wanted to remain at Spurs for longer than that and would like to be there until he's at least 61.

"I would love to stay for many years. I say 'many years' but I know realistically how football is, but I would like to... do a Mauricio [Pochettino], 5-1/2 years, it would be amazing. Maybe [this is] the last job [in England]."