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GUYANA CHRONICLE Wednesday July 8, 2015
Mayweather stripped of title he won in Pacquiao fight
(REUTERS) - Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been stripped of the welterweight world title he won after beating Filipino Manny Pacquiao this year for failing to comply with rules, the World Boxing Organisation said on Monday. Mayweather, who improved to 48-0 by beating Pacquiao in May, missed a deadline by which he had to pay a $200 000 sanctioning fee from the fight and vacate the junior middleweight title he also held, the WBO said in a statement. The WBO said it is against rules for boxers to hold world titles in multiple weight classes and that Mayweather had to indicate which weight division he would retain. Mayweather, who finished ahead on all
three scorecards of what proved to be the top-grossing prize fight of all-time, had until 16:30hrs ET last Friday to advise the WBO of his position. “The WBO World Championship Committee is allowed no other alternative but to cease to recognise Mr Floyd Mayweather Jr as the WBO Welterweight Champion of the World and vacate his title, for failing to comply with our WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests,” the WBO said in a statement. Mayweather, who earned over $200 million from the fight which generated a record pay-per-view revenue in the United States of $400 million, has two weeks to launch an appeal.
Floyd Mayweather Jr of the U.S. poses with his title belts after defeating Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines in their welterweight WBO, WBC and WBA (Super) title fight in Las Vegas, Nevada, May 2, 2015. (Reuters/Steve Marcus)
Sweeping changes at CONCACAF in the wake of FIFA scandal MIAMI, USA (CMC) - CONCACAF has announced sweeping changes to the way it does business in a desperate attempt to salvage its reputation after some of its leading officials were placed at the centre of a FIFA corruption scandal. The body that governs football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean has announced that it has approved expansive reform measures proposed by a three-man special committee. The confederation says the reforms, unanimously
approved by CONCACAF’s Executive Committee at a weekend meeting, in Canada, aim to strengthen its management and operations. “These reforms are intended to apply best practices for sound corporate governance to CONCACAF’s business operations,” CONCACAF said. “This Reform Framework reflects CONCACAF’s commitment to strengthening our governance, management, and operations”. Reforms include independent members on the
eight-member executive committee (Exco), not affiliated with any football-related activities, term limits on all members of the Exco, including the president and full publication of senior officials’ salaries. Other changes include full publication of CONCACAF’s annual financial statements and budget, a “pre-approved” vendor system for all contracts with CONCACAF to prevent fraud, the appointment of a chief compliance officer and the setting up of a whistleblower hotline “In implementing the
Praise for umpire Wilson on the verge of his Test debut P O R T - O F - S P A I N , ranks in umpiring as he Trinidad (CMC) - Pres- has always strove for the ident of the Trinidad highest professional stanand Tobago Cricket dards,” said Bassarath. Board (T&TCB) Azim “He must also be Bassarath, has heaped commended for devotpraise on Joel Wilson who is on the verge of making his Test debut as an umpire. Bassarath has described Wilson as an inspiration to a new generation of umpires as he prepares to officiate in the first Test between Bangladesh and South Africa from July 21 to July 25 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong. Wilson’s Test debut marks another exciting Umpire Joel Wilson is chapter in his career preparing to stand in his as a representative of the West Indies Cricket first Test in Chittagong. Board on the International Panel of Umpires ing time to enhance the and Referees. capabilities of other um“ We h a v e a l w a y s pires through mentoknown that Joel has the ring and training procapability to rise up the grammes in his native
country”. Wilson, 48, has officiated in 21 One-Day Internationals and 16 T20 International. Recently he was in action as one of 20 umpires selected to do duty at the ICC World Cup tournament in Australia and New Zealand. “Joel serves as an inspiration to the new generation of umpires coming through the ranks who will now have someone to look up to and become motivated to emulate him which we think is a powerful symbol of what can be achieved when one puts his/her mind to achieving their desired goals,” said Bassarath. Wilson is expected to preside over a very competitive encounter between a resurgent Bangladesh playing on their home turf against the world’s No 1-ranked Test side, South Africa.
Reform Framework, the Confederation will demonstrate to its fans, sponsors, member associations and other stakeholders that CONCACAF is resilient and devoted to managing, developing, and promoting
the game with accountability and transparency,” CONCACAF said. Former CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb was among six soccer officials arrested and detained by Swiss police pending extradition at the request of
U.S. authorities in May. The case involves bribes totalling more than $100 million linked to commercial deals dating back to the 1990s for soccer tournaments in the United States and Latin America.