Sport 16
Ashburton Guardian
www.guardianonline.co.nz
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Games invite for Pacquiao
From left: Lance Caffell, Cornelius Grobler and Coenraad Venter are eagerly awaiting the South Island Novice Championships at Woolston Boxing Club next weekend. PHOTO SUPPLIED
■ BOXING
Duo up for ring debuts By James Ford
James.F@TheGuardian.co.nz
Current national welterweight champion Cornelius Grobler has been passing on his knowledge of the fight game to two South Island novice hopefuls. Grobler is currently coaching Lance Caffell and younger brother Coenraad Venter ahead of their ring debuts at the South Island novice championships in
Christchurch next weekend. Grobler has been working with the duo since late last year and the South African is now determined to prepare the newbie pugilists for what is often described as the toughest game of all. “Both of them come from quite rough backgrounds. “They both approached me saying that they wanted to do something with their lives and
do something they’ll be remembered for,” he said. Grobler has offered Venter and Caffell the benefit of his ring nous and also donned the runners with his small stable to ensure they are in tip-top shape ahead of next weekend’s championships. “I started training with them about three or four months ago. “I’ve been grinding them real
hard and they’ve been preparing well,” he said. The 31-year-old praised the pair for their dedication and is confident they can perform well among stiff competition. “I know I’ve put them through hell so far and a few times they’ve quit, but they’ve come back, apologised, and got right back to work. “They’ve got heart.”
■ TENNIS
Sharapova should be punished - Nadal Rafael Nadal believes Maria Sharapova deserves to be punished after failing a drug test at the Australian Open. The former world No 1 was found to have taken meldonium - a drug known to increase endurance capabilities - which was prohibited from January 1 this year. Sharapova has been provisionally suspended from March 12, but Nadal insists she ‘must pay’ for failing to take notice of new doping regulations. “It is difficult to imagine that something like this can happen, but mistakes happen,” he said ahead of his first round match at Indian Wells. “She should be punished. “I want to believe it is a mistake for Maria. “She didn’t want to do it. But
obviously it is negligence. She must pay for it.” Nadal, who enters this week’s tournament as the No 4 seed, says he has never been tempted to take a performing enhancing drug and wants to continue to be a role model for young players. “I am a completely clean guy,’ he added. ‘I have never had the temptation of doing something wrong.” “I believe in the sport and the values of the sport. “It is an example for the kids and if I am doing something that goes against that, I will be lying to myself, not lying to my opponents.” Meanwhile Andy Murray has expressed disappointment at his racket sponsor Head’s support for Maria Sharapova after the fivetime grand slam winner admitted
that’s happened the failing a drugs test. last few days. The company re“I don’t really know leased a statement what else to say on that, yesterday claiming it but that’s not somewas proud to be asthing I believe. sociated with the Rus“I think at this stage sian just three days afit’s important really ter her revelation that to get hold of the facts she had tested posiand let things play out, tive for meldonium at like more informathe Australian Open. Maria Sharapova tion coming out before Head also announced the intention to ex- making a decision to extend the tend Sharapova’s contract, even contract like that, in my view. “I personally wouldn’t have rethough she is facing a possible four-year ban from tennis, and sponded like that.” Murray’s comments came after Murray was baffled by the approach from a company he has Head had publicly backed Sharapova despite a number of her used throughout his career. Speaking at a press confer- other sponsors, including Nike ence in Indian Wells ahead of his and Porsche, distancing themparticipation in the BNP Paribas selves from her while watchmakOpen, the Scot said: “I think it’s a er Tag Heuer vowed to cut ties - AP strange stance given everything completely.
The legendary Manny Pacquiao has received an invite from boxing’s top brass to compete at this year’s Olympics, but his famous rival Floyd Mayweather is a confirmed non-starter at Rio. Boxing’s world governing body, the AIBA, is fast tracking an extraordinary proposal which would allow the world’s finest professionals to compete at the summer Olympics, starting this year in Brazil. Olympic boxing has been an amateur domain, of three round contests where boxers wear protective head gear and focus on scoring points rather than knockouts. There is a vast difference between professional and amateur boxing although many Olympic medallists like Muhammad Ali and Mayweather went on to become professional superstars. The Daily Mail reports that according to the Philippine Star, Pacquiao received the personal invite from AIBA president Dr Ching-Kuo Wu. Pacquiao is preparing for his third fight against Timothy Bradley, a world welterweight contest, in what is supposed to be his swansong. Mayweather, who defeated Pacquiao last year in their belated but long-awaited ‘Fight of the Century’, won bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. The 39-year-old Mayweather said there was absolutely no chance of him returning to the ring. “For my body to recover from all my fights will be for the rest of my life. I’m truly blessed to have been fighting for so much of my life,” he said. “I had a great run. Ain’t no more for this body to heal but rest.” Dr Wu said: “We want the best boxers to come to the Olympic Games. “It is AIBA’s 70th birthday, and we want something to change not after four years, but now. “It is an IOC policy to have the best athletes in the Games, and of the international federations, AIBA is probably the only one without professional athletes in the Olympics.” But opponents include former champ Lennox Lewis, who described the proposed rule change as preposterous and said putting professionals in the ring against amateurs was unfair and dangerous. - NZME
Manny Pacquiao