Sport 16
Ashburton Guardian
Thursday, November 10, 2016
www.guardianonline.co.nz
In brief Ronaldo’s status stays Cristiano Ronaldo’s status as the world’s richest athlete looks assured for the foreseeable future. The Real Madrid and Portugal footballer has extended his sponsorship deal with Nike for life. Terms of the deal haven’t been released, but it’s expected to be in the vicinity of LeBron James’ one billion US dollar deal. Ronaldo topped the latest Forbes sporting rich list at 88 million US dollars ahead of his Barcelona rival Lionel Messi and James. - NZME
Tougher test expected
Joseph Parker is stepping up his training as he prepares for what coach Kevin Barry calls ‘a very, very big challenge’.
■ BOXING
Parker steps it up a level The Mexican is currently preparing in the California resort town of Big Bear Lake with renowned trainer Abel Sanchez. “He’s a nice guy, he’s respectful and we respect him as well,” Parker said of Ruiz Jr. “I said to him that he’s going to enjoy New Zealand and ‘let’s have some fun when we’re in the ring together’. “He’s in a lot better shape than he has been for other fights. He seems confident... I believe we’ll see the best Andy on December 10.” Parker and Barry are preparing on the assumption the fight for the vacant WBO title will go the full 12 rounds. Barry, who took David Tua to a world title fight against Lennox Lewis in Las Vegas in 2000, which the Kiwi-Samoan lost, expects it to be
Joseph Parker says his focus in training for his world heavyweight title fight against Andy Ruiz in Auckland has been on “a different level” as he prepares for the most dangerous opponent of his career. Speaking from his Las Vegas base alongside Kevin Barry, his mentor and trainer, yesterday, Parker said he was facing another 50 rounds of sparring before his team arrive in Auckland on November 25 for the fight at Vector Arena on December 10. Parker said he expects Ruiz Jr, whom he met by chance in Las Vegas recently, to be in similarly good shape. Ruiz Jr, who has carried a lot of weight in the past, but has remained undefeated as a professional, has probably lost nearly 20kg in training, he said.
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Australia’s greatest spinner Shane Warne has joined an ever-growing list of contenders to coach the national side in an upcoming home Twenty20 series. Cricket Australia (CA) is searching for a caretaker coach for three T20 clashes with Sri Lanka in February, when Darren Lehmann and the nation’s best players will be in India preparing for a four-Test series. Justin Langer, viewed as Lehmann’s likely successor, will be tied up coaching Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield. That leaves the likes of Ryan Harris, Brad Haddin,
Champing at the bit The Kiwis are expected to blood some of their unused players in Saturday morning’s Four Nations league test against Scotland. Five players have yet to feature in New Zealand’s three end-of-year test matches and fullback Jordan Kahu says they’re champing at the bit. David Fusitua, Te Maire Martin, Joseph Tapine, James Fisher-Harris and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak have yet to play in the three matches. - NZME
Pakistan thumped The White Ferns have thumped Pakistan by eight wickets in their series-opening women’s one-day cricket international at Lincoln. New Zealand’s chased down the 157 required for victory in just 23 overs, with opener Samantha Curtis finishing unbeaten on 55. White Ferns captain Suzie Bates top scored with 64. New Zealand earlier dismissed Pakistan for 156 in 49 overs after sending the tourists into bat. The second ODI is on Friday. - NZME
Retallick back?
Warne keen to coach T20 side
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kau in May would stand Parker in good stead for a fight which he said was a far bigger challenge. “It was great that Joe was able to experience such a war against Takam; to go to some dark places, because I expect us to go to dark places in this fight. This is going to go down to who wants it the most. “You saw that fight – it was a life or death fight,” Barry said. “Well let me tell you this – Andy Ruiz is a much bigger, far more dangerous challenge than Carlos Takam and it’s going to take everything that Joe has learned in the last three and a half years ... every bit of strength and desire in his body if we are going to win this fight. This is a very, very big challenge.” - NZME
■ CRICKET
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one of the best of the year given the quality and styles of the two fighters. “This could easily be a 12-round contest. Both guys throw a lot of punches. Game plans and how they are followed in this fight are going to be very important. Joe and I have a very good game plan, it’s just a matter whether we can excecute it or whether Andy lets us. “The style of this fight on paper is going to be a terrifically exciting fight. In fact, this fight could be the best heavyweight fight in the world this year, and I don’t say that lightly. I’ve watched every fight I can, all the [top] heavyweight fights this year. Barry said the 12-round battle against Carlos Takam in Manu-
Pakistan’s expecting the Black Caps to be a far tougher test in New Zealand. While Pakistan’s climbed to second in the world after drawing a series in England this year, New Zealand’s languishing in seventh after back-to-back series losses in South Africa in India. Fast bowler Wahab Riaz says the Black Caps’ recent struggles in India are understandable. He says playing in India is very difficult and he knows New Zealand is a very good team in their home conditions. Pakistan play New Zealand A in a three day match in Nelson, starting Friday. - NZME
Jason Gillespie, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey and Brad Hodge as the leading candidates for the post. All six of those former players have more coaching experience and formal qualifications than Warne. But CA isn’t ruling out the prospect of employing Warne, as was the case in the lead-up to the 2014 World Twenty20. “We are speaking to a number of people about the prospect of coaching the T20 international squad against Sri Lanka as head coach and assistant coach, Darren Lehmann and David Saker, will be in India,” a CA
spokesperson said. “At this stage no decision has been made on an appointment.” CA announced yesterday that Haddin and Harris will both serve as assistant coaches during a three-match ODI series in New Zealand that precedes the home T20 series against Sri Lanka. Warne has a prickly relationship with CA high-performance chief Pat Howard, who has helped lay out a clear development pathway for aspiring coaches like Harris and Haddin. But Howard is well aware of the value of Warne. - AAP
The All Blacks are likely to get one of their first-choice locks back this week. Brodie Retallick needs to get through contact training without a recurrence of concussion symptoms in order to be considered to face Italy and the signs are promising for him. But Sam Whitelock is still at least a week away as he recovers from an ankle injury. - NZME
Raiders sign Lui Canberra have signed former St George Illawarra lock Dunamis Lui on a two-year deal. Lui, who has played 80 first grade games with the Red V, Manly and Brisbane since debuting in 2010, was originally contracted to the Dragons until the end of 2017 but was released last weekend. The move completes a direct swap for Paul Vaughan between the Radiers and Dragons. - AAP