20150206 CNDY omPrintsite BSECT CHN-BRO SPO …Boxing Mayweather notwelcome DownUnder...
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18 Friday, February 6, 2015 SPORTS CHINA DAILY » CHINADAILY.COM.CN/SPORTS Boxing Mayweather not welcome Down Under By AGENCIES in Melbourne The Australian tour of the world’ s best pound-for-pound boxer, Floyd Mayweather, was indefinitely postponed on Wednesday after the Ameri- can, who has a history of vio- lence toward women, was unable to secure a visa from immigration authorities. The undefeated five-divi- sion world champion was booked for dinner and night- club appearances in Melb- ourne and Sydney on Thursday and Friday. The Immigration Depart- ment was still to give a deci- sion on Mayweather’s visa application when promoter Max Markson announced the events, including the dinners costing between $150 and $750, were unable to go ahead. “Floyd will be announcing new dates soon,” Markson posted on his website on Wednesday. The original organizers had already pulled out citing con- stant date changes by the box- er’s representative. The Department of Immigra- tion is continuing to deliberate whether Mayweather should be allowed into the country despite a series of criminal con- victions for domestic violence and assault committed against several women. The 37-year-old spent two months in a US jail in 2012 aft- er pleading guilty to assaulting his former partner in front of their children. In 2004, he received a one- year suspended jail sentence and was ordered to undergo counseling for “impulse con- trol” after being convicted for punching two women in a nightclub. The department has previ- ously overlooked the criminal convictions and dubious char- acter of international celebri- ties, such as Mike Tyson and Snoop Lion (formerly known as Snoop Dogg). However, more recently, the department revoked the visa of Julien Blanc, a “pick-up art- ist” who advocated emotional- ly manipulating women into sex, after public protests. A Change.org petition call- ing on Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to reject May- weather’s visa application reached 40,000 signatures within two days of its creation on Jan 29. Mayweather was the world’s highest-paid athlete last year after his two fights earned him $119 million. Hopes dampened Over last weekdnd, May- weather dampened talk of a possible mega-fight agree- ment with Filipino boxer Man- ny Pacquiao, a day after the Asian star’s promoter said a deal was near. Mayweather posted a mes- sage on his Shots account that said in part: “While they con- tinue to lie about making the fight... I’m just going to contin- ue to travel and explore the world on my private jet. #FightNotMadeYet #Jamaica.” Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum told the New York Post on Friday that he was optimis- tic a Pacquiao-Mayweather deal for a May 2 fight in Las Vegas would be completed in the next couple of days, with only a few final details to be settled between rival telecast- ers HBO and Showtime, the rights holders for Pacquiao and Mayweather respectively. Mayweather, who turns 38 on Feb 24, left England’s Amir Khan hanging for months until announcing on his birth- day last year that he would fight Argentina’s Marcos Mai- dana instead. Mayweather wound up beating the South American twice in 2014, but has yet to test himself against Pacquiao or Khan. Filipino southpaw Pacquiao is 57-5 with two drawn and 38 knockouts while Mayweather is 47-0 with 26 knockouts. Fans have sought a showdown between the two for five years, thus far in vain. Zou focused on world title shot Double Olympic gold medalist fulfilling lifelong dream on March 7 By AGENCE FRANCE- PRESSE in Hong Kong Double Olympic flyweight champion Zou Shiming has vowed to put China on the global boxing map by winning his first professional world title in Macao next month. The 2008 and 2012 Olympic gold medalist was a three-time world champion in a glorious amateur career, but he believes that if he beats undefeated Thai Amnat Ruenroeng for the International Boxing Federa- tion crown on March 7 he will finally bring Chinese boxing to the world’s attention. “I swore to fulfil my dreams to become a professional fight- er, to achieve world titles and to bring China into the world- wide boxing family,” Zou told AFP in an interview in Los Angeles. Zou is currently training for the fight at legendary trainer Freddie Roach’s Wild- card gym in the US city. The boxer denied that fanatical support in his home- land — where up to 300 mil- lion are expected to watch his challenge for the IBF belt — was heaping pressure on him. “The pressure doesn’t come from my home country, but comes from myself and that made me enter the pro ring in my thirties,” said the 33-year- old who is from Guizhou prov- ince in southwestern China. Veteran promoter Bob Arum has dubbed Zou “the poster boy” for the rise of Chi- nese professional boxing, where it was banned for dec- ades for being too Western and too violent. “Zou is the engine behind all of this activity in China,” said Arum. “He’s the poster boy.” Superstar status Zou is quickly assuming superstar status following a cameo appearance in the lat- est Transformers movie and after starring in advertise- ments for Beats headphones with NBA icon LeBron James and tennis legend Serena Williams. His soaring popularity back home will hit the stratosphere should he win at the Venetian Macao casino in the southern Chinese gambling hub. In just two years since Zou’s first professional fight at the Venetian’s Cotai Arena, the venue has become the home of boxing in Asia. It has hosted all of Zou’s six professional fights and two world title cards featuring the Filipino eight-weight world champion Manny Pacquiao, regarded by many as the best pound-for-pound fighter of the past 15 years. Zou’s last outing in Novem- ber — second on the bill to Pac- quia’s demolition of Chris Algieri — saw him go 12 rounds for the first time and batter another experienced Thai, Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym, in a runaway points victory. Zou (6-0, 1 KO) expects a much tougher battle against Amnat (14-0, 5 KOs) who is making his third defence of the IBF flyweight title. The pair fought three times in their amateur careers with Zou winning the last two encounters. “He is as determined as me to win this fight. He is a tough fighter, and the professional experience should give him a bit of an advantage,” said the soft-spoken Zou. Fearless fighter “I have fought Amnat three times and I am familiar with his style. However he turned professional years earlier than me. This should bring me new challenges.” The one downside of Zou’s victory over Kwanpichit was a nasty gash over his left eye, which delayed the world title fight by a month to give him time to heal. “The eye problem has been fixed,” said Zou. “As a boxer, you will always taste blood. Cuts and injuries are common. If they scare you, you will nev- er become a good fighter.” Zou says his ultimate dream is to make it big in the US and headline in Las Vegas for a world title. “Las Vegas is always the big stage that all professional boxers dream of,” he said. “At the moment I am only focused on March 7. I am not going to hang up my gloves no matter what result. I will try hard to make different kinds of breakthroughs. Fighting in Las Vegas is one of them.” China’s Zou Shiming competes against Thailand’s Yokthong Kokietgym in their flyweight bout in Macau in February 2014. Double Olympic flyweight champion Zou has vowed to put China on the global boxing map by winning his first pro world title in March. ALEX OGLE / AFP FILE As a boxer, you will always taste blood. Cuts and injuries are common. If they scare you, you will never become a good fighter.” Zou Shiming Boxer Floyd Mayweather attends a recent NBA game in Miami. AP FILE PHOTO Klitschko ready to rumble with ‘Rocky’ By REUTERS in New York Long-reigning world heavy- weight champion Wladimir Klitschko likens his next chal- lenger, Bryant Jennings of Philadelphia, to Hollywood’s fictional Rocky Balboa. But the 38-year-old Ukrain- ian who has ruled the divi- sion for nine years does not predict a happy ending for Jennings in their April 25 clash at Madison Square Gar- den. “I think Bryant is Rocky Balboa,” Klitschko said on Wednesday. “He’s from Philadelphia. He’s someone who started late in boxing. He’s a top con- tender. I can see the desire and will, the way he carries himself. Makes me think this fight is going to be exciting. This is his life’s chance.” But Klitschko likes his chances as holder of five belts and a 63-3 record. “As the champion, I am the Bad Man. I am the Baddest Man on the Planet in boxing,” said Klitschko, who has made 17 title defenses — second only to the immoratal Joe Louis. Jennings is 19-0, but at 6-3, 225 pounds and wearing a black tee shirt with “I MAT- TER!” lettered on the front, looked like a kid brother as he stared up at Klitschko for photographers. “I’m ready because I’ve got to be ready,” said Jennings, 30. “I’m big, I’m strong, I’m ready ... and I’ve never been beat. It’s my time.” Unified world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (left) and challenger Bryant Jennings laugh during Wednesday’s news conference for their April 25 bout. Reuters Stone-faced Holyfield stars in road rage spot By ASSOCIATED PRESS in Atlanta Flashing the same stone- faced glare that once was so familiar in the boxing ring, Evander Holyfield appeared headed toward another fight. This time the challenge came from a hot-tempered motorist who felt he had been cut off as Holyfield pulled out of a driveway. The driver, unaware he was about to encounter the former four-time heavy- weight champion, forced Holyfield off the road and slammed his hand onto the hood of Holyfield’s SUV. The enraged driver contin- ued to yell curses and threats, demanding Holyfield get out of the vehicle. Holyfield obliged, opening the door. No longer hidden by the SUV’s tinted windows, he was immediately recognized and the motorist backed away, mumbling “I didn’t know it was you.” It was an example of how road rage can lead to unex- pected big trouble — and it wasn’t real. Holyfield and his misguided antagonist were only acting in a short public service announcement. The closing message: “Avoid road rage. You never know who you might run into.” Holyfield had no speaking line in the new PSA, which lasts about 30 seconds and is supported by several Georgia law enforcement agencies. He said he was happy to partici- pate because he has seen road rage up close, when he was only 17 and driving a beat-up jalopy instead of a luxury SUV. He said his car “just stopped” in the middle of the road and he was challenged by an older driver. “Somebody was blowing their horn and they got out and they just talked to me any kind of way, you know,” Holy- field said. “I fought then. I wasn’t heavyweight champ of the world. I was 17, but I could fight and the guy is talking all this noise. He was probably thinking I can’t fight. I was a good fighter. I was an ama- teur champion.” Holyfield said he “did the wise thing” by remembering advice from his mother to “just chill.” “But, you know, in a moment I was upset and I knew the man couldn’t whup me and I could have got out there and fought, but I was embarrassed because my car was raggly and it stopped,” he said. Holyfield, 52, officially retired in 2014 after having no fights since 2011. “It is a good place in my life now,” he said. Part of his time is spent using his celebrity to bring attention to causes. He made an appearance at NASCAR’s event at Atlanta Motor Speed- way in August as a spokes- man for Feed the Hungry. Evander Holyfield, the former world heavyweight champion, is seen in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, last month. Holyfield is taking part in a Georgia campaign to curtail road rage. RON HARRIS / AP $119 million Floyd Mayweather’s earnings last year in two fights, making him the world’s highest-paid athlete. SOCCER Philippe Coutinho could help Liverpool make up for the departure of Luis Suarez > P20
Transcript of 20150206 CNDY omPrintsite BSECT CHN-BRO SPO …Boxing Mayweather notwelcome DownUnder...
18 Friday, February 6, 2015
SPORTSCHINA DAILY » CHINADAILY.COM.CN/SPORTS
Boxing
Mayweathernot welcomeDown UnderBy AGENCIES in Melbourne
The Australian tour of theworld’ s best poundforpoundboxer, Floyd Mayweather, wasindefinitely postponed onWednesday after the American, who has a history of violence toward women, wasunable to secure a visa fromimmigration authorities.
The undefeated fivedivision world champion wasbooked for dinner and nightclub appearances in Melbourne and Sydney onThursday and Friday.
The Immigration Department was still to give a decision on Mayweather’s visaapplication when promoterMax Markson announced theevents, including the dinnerscosting between $150 and$750, were unable to go ahead.
“Floyd will be announcingnew dates soon,” Marksonposted on his website onWednesday.
The original organizers hadalready pulled out citing constant date changes by the boxer’s representative.
TheDepartmentofImmigration is continuing to deliberatewhether Mayweather shouldbe allowed into the countrydespite a series of criminal convictions for domestic violenceand assault committed against several women.
The 37yearold spent twomonths in a US jail in 2012 afterpleadingguilty toassaultinghis former partner in front oftheir children.
In 2004, he received a oneyear suspended jail sentenceand was ordered to undergocounseling for “impulse control” after being convicted forpunching two women in anightclub.
The department has previously overlooked the criminalconvictions and dubious character of international celebrities, such as Mike Tyson andSnoop Lion (formerly knownas Snoop Dogg).
However, more recently, thedepartment revoked the visaof Julien Blanc, a “pickup artist” who advocated emotionally manipulating women intosex, after public protests.
A Change.org petition call
ing on Immigration MinisterPeter Dutton to reject Mayweather’s visa applicationreached 40,000 signatureswithin two days of its creationon Jan 29.
Mayweather was the world’shighestpaid athlete last yearafter his two fights earned him$119 million.
Hopes dampenedOver last weekdnd, May
weather dampened talk of apossible megafight agreement withFilipinoboxer Manny Pacquiao, a day after theAsian star’s promoter said adeal was near.
Mayweather posted a message on his Shots account thatsaid in part: “While they continue to lie about making thefight... I’m just going to continue to travel and explore theworld on my private jet.#FightNotMadeYet #Jamaica.”
Pacquiao promoter BobArum told the New York Poston Friday that he was optimistic a PacquiaoMayweatherdeal for a May 2 fight in LasVegas would be completed inthe next couple of days, withonly a few final details to besettled between rival telecasters HBO and Showtime, therights holders for Pacquiaoand Mayweather respectively.
Mayweather, who turns 38on Feb 24, left England’s AmirKhan hanging for monthsuntil announcing on his birthday last year that he wouldfight Argentina’s Marcos Maidana instead.
Mayweather wound upbeating the South Americantwice in 2014, but has yet totest himself against Pacquiaoor Khan.
Filipino southpaw Pacquiaois 575 with two drawn and 38knockouts while Mayweatheris 470 with 26 knockouts.Fans have sought a showdownbetween the two for five years,thus far in vain.
Zou focused on world title shotDouble Olympicgold medalistfulfilling lifelongdream on March 7
By AGENCE FRANCEPRESSE in Hong Kong
Double Olympic flyweightchampion Zou Shiming hasvowed to put China on theglobal boxing map by winninghis first professional worldtitle in Macao next month.
The 2008 and 2012 Olympicgold medalist was a threetimeworld champion in a gloriousamateurcareer,buthebelievesthat if he beats undefeatedThaiAmnatRuenroeng for theInternational Boxing Federation crown on March 7 he willfinally bring Chinese boxing tothe world’s attention.
“I swore to fulfil my dreamsto become a professional fighter, to achieve world titles andto bring China into the worldwide boxing family,” Zou toldAFP in an interview in LosAngeles.
Zou is currently trainingfor the fight at legendarytrainer Freddie Roach’s Wildcard gym in the US city.
The boxer denied thatfanatical support inhishomeland — where up to 300 million are expected to watch hischallenge for the IBF belt —was heaping pressure on him.
“The pressure doesn’t comefrom my home country, butcomes from myself and thatmade me enter the pro ring inmy thirties,” said the 33yearold who is from Guizhou province in southwestern China.
Veteran promoter BobArum has dubbed Zou “theposter boy” for the rise of Chinese professional boxing,where it was banned for decades for being too Westernand too violent.
“Zouis theenginebehindallof this activity in China,” said
Arum. “He’s the poster boy.”
Superstar statusZou is quickly assuming
superstar status following acameo appearance in the latest Transformers movie andafter starring in advertisements for Beats headphoneswith NBA icon LeBron Jamesand tennis legend SerenaWilliams.
His soaringpopularitybackhomewillhit thestratosphereshould he win at the VenetianMacao casino in the southernChinese gambling hub.
In just two years since Zou’sfirst professional fight at theVenetian’s Cotai Arena, thevenue has become the homeof boxing in Asia.
It has hosted all of Zou’s sixprofessional fights and twoworld title cards featuring theFilipino eightweight worldchampion Manny Pacquiao,regarded by many as the bestpoundforpound fighter of
the past 15 years.Zou’s last outing in Novem
ber—secondonthebill toPacquia’s demolition of ChrisAlgieri—sawhimgo12roundsfor the first time and batteranother experienced Thai,Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym,in a runaway points victory.
Zou (60, 1 KO) expects amuch tougher battle againstAmnat (140, 5 KOs) who ismaking his third defence ofthe IBF flyweight title.
The pair fought three timesin their amateur careers withZou winning the last twoencounters.
“He is as determined as meto win this fight. He is a toughfighter, and the professionalexperience should give him abit of an advantage,” said thesoftspoken Zou.
Fearless fighter“I have fought Amnat three
times and I am familiar withhis style. However he turned
professional years earlierthan me. This should bringme new challenges.”
The one downside of Zou’svictory over Kwanpichit was anasty gash over his left eye,which delayed the world titlefight by a month to give himtime to heal.
“The eye problem has beenfixed,” said Zou. “As a boxer,you will always taste blood.Cutsandinjuriesarecommon.If they scare you, you will never become a good fighter.”
Zou says his ultimatedream is to make it big in theUS and headline in Las Vegasfor a world title.
“Las Vegas is always the bigstage that all professionalboxers dream of,” he said.
“At the moment I am onlyfocused on March 7. I am notgoing tohangupmyglovesnomatter what result. I will tryhard to make different kindsof breakthroughs. Fighting inLas Vegas is one of them.”
China’s Zou Shiming competes against Thailand’s Yokthong Kokietgym in their flyweight bout in Macau in February 2014. Double Olympicflyweight champion Zou has vowed to put China on the global boxing map by winning his first pro world title in March. ALEX OGLE / AFP FILE
As a boxer, youwill always tasteblood. Cuts andinjuries arecommon. If theyscare you, youwill never becomea good fighter.”Zou Shiming
Boxer Floyd Mayweather attends a recent NBA game in Miami.AP FILE PHOTO
Klitschko ready to rumble with ‘Rocky’By REUTERS in New York
Longreigning world heavyweight champion WladimirKlitschko likens his next challenger, Bryant Jennings ofPhiladelphia, to Hollywood’sfictional Rocky Balboa.
But the38yearoldUkrainian who has ruled the division for nine years does notpredict a happy ending for
Jennings in their April 25clash at Madison Square Garden.
“I think Bryant is RockyBalboa,” Klitschko said onWednesday.
“He’s from Philadelphia.He’s someone who startedlate in boxing. He’s a top contender. I can see the desireand will, the way he carrieshimself. Makes me think this
fight is going to be exciting.This is his life’s chance.”
But Klitschko likes hischances as holder of five beltsand a 633 record.
“As the champion, I am theBad Man. I am the BaddestMan on the Planet in boxing,”said Klitschko, who has made17 title defenses — secondonly to the immoratal JoeLouis.
Jennings is 190, but at 63,225 pounds and wearing ablack tee shirt with “I MATTER!” lettered on the front,looked like a kid brother as hestared up at Klitschko forphotographers.
“I’m ready because I’ve gotto be ready,” said Jennings,30. “I’m big, I’m strong, I’mready ... and I’ve never beenbeat. It’s my time.”
Unified world heavyweightchampion Wladimir Klitschko(left) and challenger BryantJennings laugh duringWednesday’s news conferencefor their April 25 bout. Reuters
Stonefaced Holyfield stars in road rage spotBy ASSOCIATED PRESSin Atlanta
Flashing the same stonefaced glare that once was sofamiliar in the boxing ring,Evander Holyfield appearedheaded toward another fight.
This time the challengecame from a hottemperedmotorist who felt he had beencut off as Holyfield pulled outof a driveway.
The driver, unaware he wasabout to encounter theformer fourtime heavyweight champion, forcedHolyfield off the road andslammed his hand onto thehood of Holyfield’s SUV.
The enraged driver continued to yell curses and threats,demanding Holyfield get outof the vehicle. Holyfieldobliged, opening the door. Nolonger hidden by the SUV’s
tinted windows, he wasimmediately recognized andthe motorist backed away,mumbling “I didn’t know itwas you.”
It was an example of howroad rage can lead to unexpected big trouble — and itwasn’t real. Holyfield and hismisguided antagonist wereonly acting in a short publicservice announcement.
The closing message: “Avoidroad rage. You never knowwho you might run into.”
Holyfield had no speakingline in the new PSA, whichlasts about 30 seconds and issupported by several Georgialaw enforcement agencies. Hesaid he was happy to participate because he has seen roadrage up close, when he wasonly 17 and driving a beatupjalopy instead of a luxury SUV.
He said his car “just
stopped” in the middle of theroad and he was challengedby an older driver.
“Somebody was blowingtheir horn and they got outand they just talked to me any
kind of way, you know,” Holyfield said. “I fought then. Iwasn’t heavyweight champ ofthe world. I was 17, but I couldfight and the guy is talking allthis noise. He was probably
thinking I can’t fight. I was agood fighter. I was an amateur champion.”
Holyfield said he “did thewise thing” by rememberingadvice from his mother to“just chill.”
“But,youknow, inamomentIwasupsetandIknewthemancouldn’t whup me and I couldhave got out there and fought,but Iwasembarrassedbecausemy car was raggly and itstopped,” he said.
Holyfield, 52, officiallyretired in2014afterhavingnofights since 2011.
“It is a good place in my lifenow,” he said.
Part of his time is spentusing his celebrity to bringattention to causes. He madean appearance at NASCAR’sevent at Atlanta Motor Speedway in August as a spokesman for Feed the Hungry.
Evander Holyfield, the former world heavyweight champion, isseen in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, last month. Holyfield istaking part in a Georgia campaign to curtail road rage.RON HARRIS / AP
$119 million
Floyd Mayweather’s earnings lastyear in two fights, making himthe world’s highestpaid athlete.
SOCCER
Philippe Coutinho could helpLiverpool make up for thedeparture of Luis Suarez > P20
