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FRIday 3 february 2012
WORLD
THE MALAY MAIL
SPORTS We want to spare Djokovic to help him remain the world’s No 1 player and win gold at the Olympic Games in London Bogdan Obradovic Serbia captain
Rio de Janeiro | FOOTBALL
LOS ANGELES | Boxing
Greatest cornerman dies at 90 Famed boxing trainer Dundee guided Ali, Leonard, Foreman FAMED boxing trainer Angelo Dundee, who helped guide the careers of legendary fighters Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard, died at age 90 yesterday in Florida. Dundee was considered one of the greatest trainers in the history of boxing, known as a master motivator as a cornerman during some of the biggest fights the sport has ever seen. Dundee’s work spanned six decades and he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994, cementing his legacy as an invaluable asset to some of the most decorated boxers of all time. “Angelo died surrounded by family and friends,” his family said in a statement. “He was very happy that he got to celebrate Ali’s birthday earlier this year and also that he got to go to the (Hall of Fame). “He still had much to do, but led a full and extraordi-
nary life.” Dundee, noted for his knack for motivating and challenging the best of boxers, passed away at his home in Tampa, Florida. While working with Ali for the majority of the boxing great’s career, Dundee trained 15 world champions in total, including Leonard and George Foreman. One of the more indelible memories of Dundee’s career came in 1981 when he loudly exhorted Leonard in the late stages of a world championship unification fight against Thomas Hearns. After famously telling the fighter, “You’re blowing it, son,” Leonard came back out to register a thrilling knockout after having been dominated in preceding rounds. “He saved Ray Leonard in the Hearns fight. He saved Ali (against Joe Frazier) in Manila,” longstanding boxing promoter Bob Arum
BELGRADE | TENNIS
ROME | CYCLING
Djokovic to miss Swede clash
Pre-Tour teaser for Evans, Contador
AUSTRALIAN OPEN champion Novak Djokovic will not play in Serbia’s Davis Cup match against Sweden this month. Serbia captain Bogdan Obradovic said he decided to let the top-ranked Djokovic rest after he beat Rafael Nadal in a grueling fiveset final in Melbourne. Obradovic said: “We want to spare Djokovic to help him remain the world’s No 1 player and win gold at the Olympic Games in London. I had difficultly to persuade Djokovic not to play against Sweden, but think we can beat them even without him.” Serbia beat Sweden 4-1 in an away match last season. Bogdanovic said the ninth-ranked Janko Tipsarevic and Viktor Troicki will lead Serbia in the Feb 10-12 match in the Serbian city of Nis. — Agencies
TOUR DE FRANCE champion Cadel Evans (pic) has been handed a potential duel with former three-time champion Alberto Contador when the pair line up for the Tirreno-Adriatico race in March. Evans (BMC) won the Italian stage race known as the “Race of the Two Seas’’ last year, and with Contador also set to compete — if he is cleared by a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing — the pair could cross swords on stages four and five. Contador (Saxo Bank) is still awaiting a decision from the CAS, due for Feb 6, following a positive test for the banned substance clenbuterol at the 2010 Tour de France. Stage four will lead the peloton through the central Appenine mountains, over 252 km from Amelia to Chieti, and is capped by a formidable finale. The climb over the Passo Lanciano mountain pass is followed by a tricky closing 25km climb. All eyes will
said, having worked with Dundee countless times over the years. “To motivate (a fighter) takes a special skill and there aren’t many people that can do it. In the (more than 45 years) I’ve been in
be on Evans and Contador, as well as Italian aces Vicenzo Nibali and Michele Scarponi, but the biggest slice of action could come the next day on the 196 km ride from Martinsicuro to Prati di Tivo. It features a series of small climbs before the Piano Roseto (20.8 km at an average of 4.7) and the 14.5 km (at an average of 7) climb to the mountain finish. If those stages are inconclusive, a 9.3 km time trial around San Benedetto del Tronto on the final day should decide whether Evans keeps his title. With a 16.9 km time trial opening the race on March 7, sprinters, such as British world champion Mark Cavendish (Sky), will get a chance for glory on stage two’s 230km run from San Vincenzo to Indicatore. The finale of stage three, meanwhile, could tempt one-day classics king Philippe Gilbert of Belgium (BMC). — Reuters
boxing, he is the greatest cornerman by far of anyone that I’ve ever witnessed.” “Ali was this unbelievable figure, and a guy who symbolised an entire era of American culture and was idolised around the world,”
FLASHBACK: Dundee (right) with Ali in 1959
Arum added. “And through all those times, the person at his side was Dundee. For that, he will always be remembered.” — Reuters
World Cup hit by more strikes CONSTRUCTION workers’ strikes at Brazil’s World Cup venues continue to plague preparations for the 2014 showpiece with the northeastern city of Salvador hit yesterday by a stoppage in demand of improved wages. The Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador is also short-listed as a venue for the Confederations Cup, a World Cup dress rehearsal held a year before the finals, and needs to be ready in good time for the June 2013 tournament. FIFA general-secretary Jerome Valcke praised Salvador on their preparations only two weeks ago on a tour of Brazil, but workers are unhappy with deals made between venue cities and the consortiums building or refurbishing World Cup stadiums. The Brasilia, Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janeiro venues were all hit by strikes earlier in their preparations. In Recife, another World Cup host city in the state of Pernambuco, workers have been on strike for a week despite the building consortium’s claims that wages are up to date as agreed by both parties and that annual pay negotiations are not due until August. — Reuters
PARIS | Athletics
Six-month ban for doping duo SOUTH KOREAN sprinter Lim Hee-Nam and Portugal’s European 5,000m bronze medallist Sara Moreira received six-month bans from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Wednesday for doping. Both athletes tested positive for the stimulant methylhexanamine at last year’s world championships in Daegu, South Korea. Lim’s suspension runs until April 10, while Moreira’s will expire on March 7. — AFP