Tuesday September 08, 2015
Kaieteur News
Page 31
Newly crowned UBF champion, Gwendolyn PRINCE ALI almost certain to stand for ‘Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil arrives today FIFA presidency again Ranked #1
She rose to prominence in May 2004 after defeating American fighter, Kathy Rivers, for the Women’s World International Boxing Association (WIBA) light heavyweight title at the National Park, Thomas Lands. Since then Gwendolyn ‘Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil has added four other world championship belts to her collection including her most recent achievement, the Universal Boxing Federation (UBF) World female heavyweight title after she pounded out unanimous verdict over Greek fighter, Sonya ‘The Scholar’ Lamonakis on July 4. Now a resident of the United States of America, Gwendolyn is scheduled to return to Guyana this morning to celebrate her latest accomplishment with her country folks. Of more importance though, O’Neil, of Amerindian heritage, will be joining her indigenous colleagues in celebration of Amerindian Heritage Month, currently being celebrated locally. This is a major achievement when one notes that O’Neil is forty-five years old but most importantly the victory propelled her to a number one ranking in the world. While her victory over Rivers had earned her the prestigious world accolade, O’Neil ranks her most recent achievement as one of her most gratifying wins. “So many people have counted me out but through the will of God I have proven
in the world
Gwendolyn O’Neil displays her five belts
them wrong,” she proclaimed moments after the final bell. The victory becomes even more momentous when it is noted that O’Neil has battled ring rust after being absent from the square jungle for nearly four years. During that time her weight had ballooned and she was required to shed more than thirty pounds during training sessions to shed the excess. “I’m a champion and you can never count out a
true champion because I have the spirit of a warrior” she proclaimed. During her prolific career O’Neil has had the opportunity of rubbing shoulders with many great human beings but none can compare to her meeting with the great freedom fighter, Nelson Mandela, whom she met while in South Africa for a fight with Muhammad Ali’s daughter, Laila Ali in 2007 which was aborted.
She enjoys her tenure in the fistic sport but amidst it all Gwendolyn is disgruntled over the lack of respect for females who have taken up the fight game. She lamented the substandard purses allotted to women as against those of their male counterparts but even amidst her dissatisfaction O’Neil has soldiered on for more than 16 years battling the vicissitudes. She compared the purses earned by undisputed World Champion, Floyd Mayweather, over three hundred million dollars in 2015, to those given to top female boxers, struggling to earn even a million dollars for their entire career, and extended the hope that those fortunes will soon change. The bright spot is that O’Neil’s recent victory guarantees her a spot in the Hall of Fame for female boxers and though she has attained a matured age, she continues to perform way above par even as she hopes for a change of fortunes for the women in the fistic sport. Gwendolyn encourages the younger generation to get involved in what they love in the pursuance of their dreams. “Address your tasks with passion and never let anyone discourage your efforts,” she advised. Indeed, coming from someone who has defied conventional wisdom before clinching not one, but five world championship belts, such advice is sacrosanct.
Williams sisters to put family ties to ultimate test Family ties will be stretched to the limit when Serena and Venus Williams clash in a compelling U.S. Open quarter-final today where much more than sibling bragging rights will be on the line. A win by Venus would keep the 35-year-old on track for a first grand slam title since 2008 Wimbledon and a possible return to the U.S. Open final where she first made the final in her debut in 1997. But a victory would end little sister Serena’s quest for the rarest of tennis feats - a calendar-year grand slam. After wins at the Australian, French and Wimbledon, Serena will enter the Arthur Ashe Stadium court just three victories from joining the
exclusive club whose short membership list includes Maureen Connolly, Margaret Court and Steffi Graf. “Pretty clear what’s up for grabs here,” said Venus following her fourth-round win over Estonian Anett Kontaveit on Sunday. “I think people love to see history being made. “No one is out to be a spoiler, but at the same time, you’re focused on winning your match.” Certainly there are no secrets between the sisters who will know exactly what to expect having played each other since they were first handed rackets growing up in the hard-scrabble Los Angeles Compton neighborhood and began an unlikely and inspiring journey
Serena Williams embraces Venus Williams after winning their match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, July 6, 2015. Reuters/Toby Melville to the top of their sport. As professionals they have clashed 26 times with
Serena holding the advantage 15-11. Serena won their last (Continued on page 25)
Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein. Reuters/Phil Noble
The Jordanian prince beaten in May’s FIFA presidential election by Sepp Blatter will almost certainly announce later this week he will stand for the position again at FIFA’s extra-ordinary elective congress next February. Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein on Monday strongly hinted he would stand while speaking to delegates at the Soccerex business convention in Manchester. Although Ali would not confirm his intentions publicly, sources familiar with the developing FIFA presidential campaign later said the prince would definitely stand and would make his announcement later this week. He is returning to the Jordanian capital Amman today before flying to London on Thursday where he is to address delegates at another public meeting. Ali, 39, lost by 133-73 votes to incumbent Blatter who then announced he was standing down from the position four days later after FIFA was plunged into its worst crisis following arrests of its officials and others two days before the election. A fresh election to find a successor to Blatter will be held in Zurich on Feb. 26 and Ali now looks certain to become the third major candidate after declarations from UEFA President Michel Platini of France and former FIFA executive committee member and Asian vicepresident Chung Mong-joon of South Korea. Asked by moderator David Davies if he was a candidate for the presidency of FIFA again, Ali replied: “I am talking to national associations, listening to their opinions and what they see for the future and giving my own ideas. “Right now we need a candidate who is forward thinking and will bring new ideas who is not tainted by the past as well. So what I will
say right now is ‘stay tuned’” Davies asked: “Do I need to stay tuned this week, or for a month?” Ali replied with a broad smile: “Not for very long.” He then expanded on his theme throughout a relaxed 30 minute interview when he stressed time and again the need for a new, transparent FIFA, open to change and widespread reform. And he said that neither Platini, who supported him in May’s election, or Chung, who lost his executive committee seat as Asian vicepresident when Ali beat him in an election in 2011, were ideal future candidates for the FIFA presidency. “I have tremendous respect for Mr Platini both as the UEFA president and a former footballer but at the same time there is a difference between UEFA and FIFA,” he continued. “FIFA is in a crisis and we need a new beginning, and whether anyone likes it or not, Michel Platini’s introduction into football governance was as a protege of Sepp Blatter. That’s the reality. “I have sat down and talked with him, I have listened to his ideas and I think it’s my responsibility to at least guarantee the future is different from the past and therefore I was not very encouraged by Michel Platini.” He was equally dismissive of Chung, who spent 17 years on the FIFA executive committee before losing his seat to Ali four years ago. “The important thing is to have a new beginning,” said Ali, “and to have new ideas and therefore any candidate who has been in the organization for a long time is not what is needed at this time.” Ali confounded many observers by forcing a second round of voting in May’s election after denying Blatter an outright two-thirds winning margin in the first round. He then conceded defeat before a second ballot (Continued on page 29)