18 Friday, February 6, 2015

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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

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