ZAMBIA DAILY MAIL, Friday, August 25, 2017 SPORTS • Page...
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SPORTS • Page 27 ZAMBIA DAILY MAIL, Friday, August 25, 2017 L AS VEGAS, Nevada - Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather Jr. declared a truce on Wednesday after weeks of vicious verbal attacks, offering praise instead of profanities at the final press conference ahead of their much anticipated fight. Since the fight between undefeated boxer Mayweather and mixed martial arts champion McGregor was announced in June, the two men took part in a profanity laced world tour to hype about that has been met with both scepticism and excitement. The final press conference ahead of Saturday’s fight, however, was closer to a love- in than a battle field with Mayweather, in particular, complementing the man who has questioned everything from his manhood to his fashion sense. “Conor McGregor had a hell of a career, he’s still got a hell of a career,” said Mayweather. “He’s a hell of a fighter, he’s a standup guy, a tough competitor. “It’s not going to be an easy fight. There will be blood, sweat and tears Saturday.” McGregor was far less effusive McGregor, Mayweather declare truce Boxers trade praise, not profanities ahead of much anticipated fight in his compliments but after months of mercilessly attacking Mayweather said he welcomed the pause in hostilities. “There’s been a lot of crazy press conferences, this is a lot more subdued, a lot more business like the way I like it ... sometimes,” said McGregor. After the two had turned the air blue with profanity during the earlier media tour, Mayweather went the entire press conference on Wednesday without swearing. McGregor could not hold his tongue but saved his venom for a member of Mayweather’s “Money Team” who taunted him from the audience, telling him he was going to be knocked out. “Not by you, whoever you are,” countered McGregor. “Tell that bitch to shut up,” the Irishman growled while looking at Mayweather, who later chastised the member of his team. The restrained tone of Wednesday’s media conference underscored the high stakes of what is expected to be the richest fight in boxing with McGregor in line for US$100 million payday and Mayweather as much as US$200 million. While boxing purists and pundits have denounced the fight as nothing more than a laughable cash grab, it has nonetheless captured the fascination of fans. Showtime executive Stephen Espinoza said the fight, which will be distributed in more than 200 countries, is on pace to smash pay-per-view records. While the fiery rhetoric was toned down, both remain confident of the outcome. “I will go forward, I will put the pressure on him and break this old man,” said McGregor, who said he expected to end the 12-round bout inside two rounds. “Trust me on that. “I am going to out-box this man at his own game.” The only message Mayweather had for McGregor was his record reminding him that he was trying to do something that no one has ever been able to do; beat him. “I know one thing I can do, I can fight,” said Mayweather. “I can give it and I can take it. But for me to be 49-0 it is obvious I have been giving it and not receiving it. “Anything and everything in boxing that can be done, I’ve done it. I was born a fighter, I will die a fighter.” REUTERS MADRID - Astana rider Alexey Lutsenko broke clear on the uphill finish at Alcossebre to claim victory on stage five of the Vuelta a Espana, with Great Britain’s Chris Froome extending his overall lead for Team Sky. Kazakhstani Lutsenko fended off Dimension Data’s Merhawi Kudus to move ahead on the assault up Ermita Santa Lucia to cross the line some 42 seconds clear. Spaniard Marc Soler took third for Movistar, 56 seconds behind Lutsenko. Froome, who is aiming to become just the third man to win the Vuelta and Tour de France in the same year, was more than four minutes down on the leaders, but extended his slim advantage in the general classification standings. A breakaway group of 16 riders pushed the pace over the 175.7km stage from Benicassim, with Marco Haller (Katusha-Alpecin) joining Lutsenko in a late surge on the descent of the Alto de la Serratella, but the Austrian could not last the distance during the closing 45km. Frome’s overall lead now stands at 10 seconds from American Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) and 11 seconds ahead of Esteban Chaves, the Colombian Orica-Scott rider. Ireland’s Nicolas Roche is in fourth place, but the BMC racer is only 13 seconds off the red jersey. Orica-Scott duo Adam and Simon Yates are eighth and ninth, 50 seconds and 1min 09secs behind respectively. yesterday’s sixth stage would run over 204.4km from Villarreal to Sagunto and include a second category climb on Puerto del Garbi. DAILY MAIL /UK Froome extends lead at Vuelta a Espana ROME - Kimi Raikkonen has signed a new contract to remain with Ferrari next season. Raikkonen’s current deal was due to expire at the end of the year but the Finn, who turns 38 in October, will be handed at least one more year with the Italian team following their announcement on Tuesday. Sebastian Vettel, who leads Lewis Hamilton in the championship by 14 points, is out of contract with Ferrari at the end of the year, but is yet to confirm his whereabouts for 2018. ‘Scuderia Ferrari has renewed its technical and racing agreement with Kimi Raikkonen,’ the Italian constructor said in a short statement ahead of this week’s Belgian Grand Prix. ‘The Finnish driver will therefore race for the Maranello team in the 2018 Formula One World Championship.’ Raikkonen is 86 points behind team- mate Vettel as Formula One prepares to return to action following its traditional mid-season break. Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion who will now extend his grand prix career into a 16th campaign, is yet to win a race since his return to Ferrari in 2014. But the former McLaren and Lotus driver has proved an able deputy to Vettel this season. Vettel, who won the last round in Hungary to extend his lead over Hamilton in the title race, is yet to confirm whether he will stay at Ferrari next season. The four-time champion has been of interest to Mercedes, with Valtteri Bottas also out of contract at the end of the year. However, it is expected that Mercedes will hand Bottas a new deal, and with Hamilton also under contract for at least one more year, it seems unlikely Vettel will leave the Italian team at the end of the current campaign. With Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen also to remain at Red Bull, it could mean the top three teams head into next season with unchanged line-ups. Double world champion Fernando Alonso is the other major driver yet to formalise where he will be driving next year. AFP Raikkonen pens new Ferrari deal MAYWEATHER and McGregor. MULWANDA LUPIYA Ndola GOMES 1 KANSANSHI 1 KANSANSHI Dynamos on Wednesday opened up a two-point lead at the summit of Division One Zone Two after battling to a draw with Gomes in Ndola. The draw pushed the Solwezi outfit to 42 points, two clear of joint second Indeni and Kitwe United. Indeni, however, have a healthier goal difference. Striker Lloyd Alufonso put Kansanshi ahead in the first half before Congolese forward Fabian Kapumba restored parity in this tightly contested rescheduled Week 21 match at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium. The match was pushed to Wednesday following a clash in fixtures at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium which saw Zambia host South Africa in an African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier last Saturday and a Super Division double- header the following day. This weekend the North-Western Province-based side will entertain Kalulushi Modern Stars at home while Indeni travel to Zesco Luapula in Mansa with ‘Buchi Boys’ of Kitwe playing host to Geokas Curve in a Kitwe derby. Kansanshi open up 2 point lead
Transcript of ZAMBIA DAILY MAIL, Friday, August 25, 2017 SPORTS • Page...
SPORTS • Page 27ZAMBIA DAILY MAIL, Friday, August 25, 2017
LA S V E G A S , Nevada - Conor McGrego r and Floyd Mayweather Jr. declared a truce o n We d n e s d a y
after weeks of vicious verbal attacks, offering praise instead of profanities at the final press conference ahead of their much anticipated fight.
Since the f ight between undefeated boxer Mayweather and mixed martial arts champion McGregor was announced in June, the two men took part in a profanity laced world tour to hype about that has been met with both scepticism and excitement.
The final press conference ahead of Saturday’s fight, however, was closer to a love-in than a battle field with Mayweather, in particular, complementing the man who has questioned everything from his manhood to his fashion sense.
“Conor McGregor had a hell of a career, he’s still got a hell of a career,” said Mayweather. “He’s a hell of a fighter, he’s a standup guy, a tough competitor.
“It’s not going to be an easy fight. There will be blood, sweat and tears Saturday.”
McGregor was far less effusive
McGregor, Mayweather declare truce
Boxers trade praise, not profanities ahead of much anticipated fightin his compliments but after months of mercilessly attacking Mayweather said he welcomed the pause in hostilities.
“There’s been a lot of crazy press conferences, this is a lot more subdued, a lot more business like the way I like it ... sometimes,” said McGregor.
After the two had turned the air blue with profanity during the earlier media tour, Mayweather went the entire press conference on Wednesday without swearing.
McGregor could not hold his tongue but saved his venom for a member of Mayweather’s “Money Team” who taunted him from the audience, telling him he was going to be knocked out.
“Not by you, whoever you are,” countered McGregor. “Tell that bitch to shut up,” the Irishman growled whi le looking a t Mayweather, who later chastised the member of his team.
The r e s t r a ined t one o f Wednesday’s media conference underscored the high stakes of what is expected to be the richest fight in boxing with McGregor in line for US$100 million payday and Mayweather as much as US$200 million.
While boxing purists and pundits have denounced the fight
as nothing more than a laughable cash grab, it has nonetheless captured the fascination of fans.
Showtime executive Stephen Espinoza said the fight, which will be distributed in more than 200 countries, is on pace to smash pay-per-view records.
While the fiery rhetoric was toned down, both remain confident of the outcome.
“I will go forward, I will put the pressure on him and break this old man,” said McGregor, who said he expected to end the 12-round bout inside two rounds. “Trust me on that.
“I am going to out-box this man at his own game.”
The only message Mayweather had for McGregor was his record reminding him that he was trying to do something that no one has ever been able to do; beat him.
“I know one thing I can do, I can fight,” said Mayweather. “I can give it and I can take it. But for me to be 49-0 it is obvious I have been giving it and not receiving it.
“Anything and everything in boxing that can be done, I’ve done it. I was born a fighter, I will die a fighter.” REUTERS
MADRID - Astana rider Alexey Lutsenko broke clear on the uphill finish at Alcossebre to claim victory on stage five of the Vuelta a Espana, with Great Britain’s Chris Froome extending his overall lead for Team Sky.
Kazakhstani Lutsenko fended off Dimension Data’s Merhawi Kudus to move ahead on the assault up Ermita Santa Lucia to cross the line some 42 seconds clear.
Spaniard Marc Soler took third for Movistar, 56 seconds behind Lutsenko.
Froome, who is aiming to become just the third man to win the Vuelta and Tour de France in the same year, was more than four minutes down on the leaders, but extended his slim advantage in the general classification standings.
A breakaway group of 16 riders pushed the pace over the 175.7km
stage from Benicassim, with Marco Haller (Katusha-Alpecin) joining Lutsenko in a late surge on the descent of the Alto de la Serratella, but the Austrian could not last the distance during the closing 45km.
Frome’s overall lead now stands at 10 seconds from American Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) and 11 seconds ahead of Esteban Chaves, the Colombian Orica-Scott rider.
Ireland’s Nicolas Roche is in fourth place, but the BMC racer is only 13 seconds off the red jersey.
Orica-Scott duo Adam and Simon Yates are eighth and ninth, 50 seconds and 1min 09secs behind respectively.
yesterday’s sixth stage would run over 204.4km from Villarreal to Sagunto and include a second category climb on Puerto del Garbi. DAILY MAIL /UK
Froome extends lead at Vuelta a Espana
ROME - Kimi Raikkonen has signed a new contract to remain with Ferrari next season.
Raikkonen’s current deal was due to expire at the end of the year but the Finn, who turns 38 in October, will be handed at least one more year with the Italian team following their announcement on Tuesday.
Sebastian Vettel, who leads Lewis Hamilton in the championship by 14 points, is out of contract with Ferrari at the end of the year, but is yet to confirm his whereabouts for 2018.
‘Scuderia Ferrari has renewed its technical and racing agreement with Kimi Raikkonen,’ the Italian constructor said in a short statement ahead of this week’s Belgian Grand Prix.
‘The Finnish driver will therefore race for the Maranello team in the 2018 Formula One World Championship.’
Raikkonen is 86 points behind team-mate Vettel as Formula One prepares to return to action following its traditional mid-season break.
Raikkonen, the 2007 world champion who will now extend his grand prix career
into a 16th campaign, is yet to win a race since his return to Ferrari in 2014.
But the former McLaren and Lotus driver has proved an able deputy to Vettel this season.
Vettel, who won the last round in Hungary to extend his lead over Hamilton in the title race, is yet to confirm whether he will stay at Ferrari next season. The four-time champion has been of interest to Mercedes, with Valtteri Bottas also out of contract at the end of the year.
However, it is expected that Mercedes will hand Bottas a new deal, and with Hamilton also under contract for at least one more year, it seems unlikely Vettel will leave the Italian team at the end of the current campaign.
With Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen also to remain at Red Bull, it could mean the top three teams head into next season with unchanged line-ups.
Double world champion Fernando Alonso is the other major driver yet to formalise where he will be driving next year. AFP
Raikkonen pens new Ferrari deal
MAYWEATHER and McGregor.
MULWANDA LUPIYANdola
GOMES 1 KANSANSHI 1KANSANSHI Dynamos on Wednesday opened up a two-point lead at the summit of Division One Zone Two after battling to a draw with Gomes in Ndola.
The draw pushed the Solwezi outfit to 42 points, two clear of joint second Indeni and Kitwe United.
Indeni, however, have a healthier goal difference.
Striker Lloyd Alufonso put Kansanshi ahead in the first half before Congolese forward Fabian Kapumba restored parity
in this tightly contested rescheduled Week 21 match at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
The match was pushed to Wednesday following a clash in fixtures at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium which saw Zambia host South Africa in an African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifier last Saturday and a Super Division double-header the following day.
This weekend the North-Western Province-based side will entertain Kalulushi Modern Stars at home while Indeni travel to Zesco Luapula in Mansa with ‘Buchi Boys’ of Kitwe playing host to Geokas Curve in a Kitwe derby.
Kansanshi open up 2 point lead
