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Sports Interational
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
Maloney returns to boxing after gender reassignment KELLIE Maloney is returning to boxing as a promoter, less than a year after announcing she was undergoing gender reassignment. As Frank, Maloney was one of British boxing’s most high-profile promoters and led Lennox Lewis to the world heavyweight crown. And after unveiling two new charges in London on Thursday, Maloney thanked the boxing fraternity for its support. “It’s like starting all over but with 30 years of knowledge,” Maloney said. Speaking to BBC Sport, she added: “[Being Kellie] was something that was inside of me, something I had no control over. “Some people in the same situation cut their lives short, because they can’t handle it. I decided, with the support of my family, I would find the real me. “And part of the real me is that I love boxing, so I wanted to give it another shot. It feels like I’ve been born again, like I’ve got a second chance in life.” The 61-year-old Maloney, who announced she was no longer Frank last August, said she was persuaded to return to the sport by Telford amateur Tony Jones, who knocked on her door and asked her to manage him. Maloney will also co-promote Scottish heavyweight Gary Cornish,
April 25 - May 1, 2015
NBA announces its first game in Africa THE NBA announced Wednesday that it will play its first ever exhibition game in Africa on August 1 at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa. Team Africa will tip-off against Team World and will feature two-time NBA All-Star Luol Deng, born in South Sudan, as its captain. The Miami Heat star will lead a roster made up of first and second generation
African players. Team World will be led by eight-time NBA All-Star Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers. The game will be hosted in aid of Boys & Girls Clubs of South Africa, SOS Children’s Villages Association of South Africa and the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Ticket details and full player rosters are yet to be announced. (CNN)
Kellie Maloney, formerly known as Frank, underwent gender reassignment.
who is managed by Glasgow veteran Tommy Gilmour and worked with Maloney before her gender reassignment. Jones will make his pro debut on a show in Glasgow on 23 May - joint promoted by Maloney and Gilmour - where Cornish will look to extend his unbeaten record in the paid ranks to 21 fights. “The support from the lower level of boxing has been fantastic,” said Maloney. “I was surprised, if I’m being honest. It was overwhelming. “But the top of the hierarchy has been less supportive. I don’t know if they’re worried or what. Nothing has been said but you can just tell by the way they look at you or when you
speak to them on the telephone. “I’ve seen interviews where you could tell certain people wanted to make a comment but couldn’t. You get very good at reading people’s facial expressions. It does make me laugh, it’s actually quite funny.” Maloney said that as well as being surprised at the level of support she has received, she is also “a better person and a nicer person” than Frank was. “I’m a lot more understanding, have a lot more acceptance of people and situations,” said Maloney, who only completed her sex change last month. “I’m not going to let my mouth go into gear before my brain. (BBC)
London Marathon: Paula Radcliffe Nadal suffers early Barcelona ‘unprepared but healthy’ Open exit after Fognini defeat Rafael Nadal has been beaten twice by Fabio Fognini this year.
THREE-TIME London Marathon winner Paula Radcliffe says she will enter this year’s race “unfit”, but healthy. The 41-year-old, who set a world record time of two hours 15 minutes and 25 seconds in London in 2003, has been struggling with injuries this year. Radcliffe, who has run the quickest three marathon times by a woman, is taking part in her final 26.2-mile race on Sunday, starting in the mass ranks. “At least now I feel like I’m going in healthy,” she said. “I’m going in unfit and unprepared for a marathon, but I’m hoping my body can remember once it gets out there how it’s supposed to do it.” Throughout her career she has suffered from persistent foot and Achilles tendon injuries, with the latter proving a hindrance in her preparation for London. “It’s definitely looking a lot better now than even three weeks ago,” she said.
Paula Radcliffe won the London Marathon in 2002, 2003 and 2005.
“It was going really well. I went out in Kenya in February, I thought I was being really careful and not getting carried away, but I probably did start thinking about what times I might be able to run. “The trails are pretty rocky out there and I tweaked my Achilles. I didn’t think it was that big a deal at first. It took about six weeks to settle down.” This year’s race will carry extra significance for Radcliffe, who said
she almost cried when told she will be presented with the inaugural John Disley Lifetime Achievement award, named after the London Marathon founder. “The London marathon inspired me into running,” Radcliffe said. “I know I am not going to be competitive but to get the chance to take part in this race one more time is something that is really special.” (BBC)
RAFAEL Nadal suffered another setback on the road to next month’s French Open after crashing out of the Barcelona Open in the third round to Fabio Fognini. Nadal is aiming to become the first player in the Open Era to win a single major 10 times when he returns to Roland Garros, but preparations on his favored clay courts have not gone quite as planned. After failing to secure a ninth Monte Carlo Masters title earlier this month -- losing out to eventual winner Novak Djokovic in the semifinals -- he now has to go without a ninth Barcelona Open title after exiting the competition at the earliest hurdle since 2003. Nadal has just the one title to his name since landing his ninth French Open last June -- March’s Argentina Open win. Fognini saw off Nadal for the second time this year with a 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) victory on Thursday, having
also beaten his compatriot in the Rio Open semifinals. After edging a tight first set, Fognini forced the second into a tie-break, eventually winning out on a fourth match point following a mistimed forehand from his opponent. The win takes Fognini, who had been winless in his five previous appearances in Barcelona, into the quarterfinals where he will face fellow Spaniard Pablo Andujar after his 6-3 6-4 victory over Feliciano Lopez. “Unless you play at your highest level against Rafa for the whole match you are not going to get the better of him,” Fognini told Spanish television. “Beating a player who is the greatest in history on this surface is worth double. “I knew I had my chances today and I just tried to keep to my game plan and give it my all.” (CNN)