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Rumble on the Rock! ONE of the biggest heavyweight boxing fights of the year will be held in Gibraltar on March 27, thanks to COVID-19. British boxer Dillian Whyte will get a second chance to topple Alexander Povetkin on the Rock because of UK coronavirus quarantine rules. If he succeeds he will win back the right to challenge Tyson Fury for the WBC world belt - so long as Fury beats Antony Joshua in their own fight. Whyte, whose defeat to Povetkin was a shock, was meant to have a rematch in Wembley Arena on March 6, but with Whyte training in Portugal, he would have had to go into hotel lockdown for 10 days when he arrived in the UK. The south-western European nation is on a list of 33 countries which requires a quarantine and not even a top boxer can be excluded from the rules. “In the current environment we are always having to think on our feet,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “We did everything to try and make March 6 happen, but with the new travel restrictions it was impossible. “Now we have something outside the box, compelling, and a unique setting for one of the heavyweight fights of the year - roll on the Rumble on the Rock!” Brixton man Whyte had twice sent Povetkin to the ground during the first clash back in August. The Russian had the last laugh, however, knocking out Whyte with a single punch.
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Vol. 5 Issue 142 www.theolivepress.es February 24th - March 9th 2021
Road to freedom
Sky high hopes Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed the move as part of his four-step plan for gradually lifting restrictions in England, with all social contact rules finally lifted by June 21. Airlines, including easyJet, said bookings for the summer season were more than four times higher compared with the same period last week. While Spanish destinations were popular, Gibraltar businesses will be looking forward to a surge in airport arrivals too. The announcement was described by chief executive, Johan Lundgren, as a ‘much-needed boost in confidence’. “We have consistently seen a pent-up demand for travel and this surge in bookings shows that this signal has been what UK consumers have been waiting for,” he said.
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GIBRALTAR could be gearing up for an avalanche of tourists to its shores in May. Airlines and travel agents have seen the number of Brits booking holidays abroad soar this week after the UK announced its roadmap out of lockdown. UK tourists will finally be able to leave the country for holidays from May 17, the government announced on Monday.
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By John Culatto
GIBRALTAR has started on its road to recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Masks will now not have to be worn outside Gibraltar’s town centre after very few new active cases were reported in mid-February. Chief Minister Fabian Picardo delivered the news in what he said could be his last live press conference on COVID-19. Active cases of the coronavirus are now down to just 33, with a dozen of them in hospital. Pandemic deaths have continued to rise and are now at 91, with the latest occurring on February 22. New cases have now gone down to a trickle with a number of days when there were none at all reported despite over 1,000 tests a day. These are the clear results of over 30,000 vaccines being delivered to the local population. With a new batch of Pfizer vials arriving today, this will continue to inoculate Gibraltar’s population. Children have now returned to school and are allowed back into playgrounds while adults can play the lottery again.
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As Boris Johnson announced the UK’s four-step plan out of lockdown, Gibraltar beat him to it Buses restarted at half capacity on Monday too, with masks to be worn on-board. But the curfew will continue until March 14 and be applicable to all businesses including the bars and restaurants. The government will finally move away from Major Incident status on Monday. Sports will only be allowed in groups of 12 for now, although applications can be made for greater numbers to the government’s sporting association. The Contact Tracing Bureau will return to a test, trace and isolate system at the end of the month. Residents who are over 70-years-old were freed from their own lockdown on February 15. We cannot throw caution to the wind,” warned Picardo. “We are very close to being able to protect everyone in our community through vaccination. “Do not bring COVID-19 on yourself, your family or friends by going out to look for it in Spain.” Opinion Page 6