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Mayweather keeps cash register ringing...
Kazakhstan’s Ardak Maratova scores against Iran’s Mina Roosta (9) and Neda Chamlanian (5). ROMAN PROSPERO
Iranians secure top spot; PH fights Japan IRAN rued its ‘poor performance,’ but will nevertheless still take its 25-20, 18-25, 25-19, 14-25, 15-13 win over Kazakhstan that placed it on top of Group A in the 1st Rebisco Asian U23 Women’s Volleyball Championship powered by PLDT Home and Smart Live More yesterday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. The Iranians got the surprise of their lives when the Kazakhs forced them to a fifth set, but they survived a blistering Kazakhstan fightback to seal the victory and enter the quarterfinals as the top Pool A team in this continental tournament backed and aired exclusively by TV5. Earlier, Chinese Taipei made quick work of Maldives, 25-8, 25-8, 25-4, to salvage the second seed in Pool C following a heart-breaking four-set loss to powerhouse Japan late Saturday. The Taiwanese will battle the Iranians at 12 noon, while Japan will face the Philippines at 4:15 p.m. in the quarterfinals today.
The Nationals need to beat the Japanese and the Taiwanese on Tuesday to remain in the hunt for the elusive seminal slot. Neda Chamlanian and Mina Roosta carried the fight for the Iranians in the crucial fifth set as they pierced the defense with timely kills to survive the fury of the taller, more aggressive Kazakhs. Chamlanian had all of her 18 points on kills, while Roosta delivered 16 hits to finish with 18 points for the Iranians, who had inconsistencies in the second and fourth sets contrary to their solid performance against the Philippines on opening day.
“Today, we didn’t play good,” said coach Barghi Abbas, noting their poor receptions and 34 errors. “Mentally, we were not prepared. We had so many lapses and we didn’t receive the ball properly. My team’s mindset is that when we win one set, we will go to the second round. We simply didn’t play our normal game.” With Kazakhstan stretching the game to an extra set, Iran raced to a 7-2 advantage before Anastassiya Rostovchshikova and Ardak Maratova ignited a furious comeback and pushed the Kazakhs to a 13-10 advantage. An attack error from Yana Yagodina and Rostovchshikova gave the Iranians the match point followed by booming smash by skipper Mina Saberi iced the game for the Iranians. Ardak Maratova nailed 17 kills and two aces to finish with 20 points for the Kazakhs, who kissed the tournament goodbye without a win to show, sending them to the classification battle for 9th to 12th places.
Amir Khan wants to fight Floyd LAS VEGAS—Britain’s former two-time light-welterweight world champion Amir Khan has said he wants to be the next opponent for Floyd Mayweather after watching ringside as the American outpointed Manny Pacquiao in the Las Vegas superfight on Saturday. Mayweather kept his unbeaten record with a unanimous points victory over Pacquiao in a welterweight unification showdown that failed to live up to all the pre-match hype, but fully highlighted the winner’s superb defensive skills. Mayweather said after the fight that he would only get in the ring once more - in September - and Khan, 10 years younger at 28, believes he is ideally placed to be the American’s final opponent. “I think the fight is there,” Khan told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme. “I spoke to Len Ellerbe, his manager, I saw him in the media room and he came over to say ‘hi...he’s ready when you are’. “I think Mayweather’s team are wanting the fight. But then - on the other hand - I’ve even spoken to Manny’s team and they said the same thing. (They said), ‘Look Amir, I think it’d be good to have the fight between you and Manny next’.
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“So, I’m in a position where I could fight either guy but I think Mayweather’s the one I want, because I really believe I have his number.” The Bolton boxer, with 30 wins and three losses to date in his career, is in action later this month in New York taking on Chris Algieri, but he hopes to get in the ring with Mayweather later this year or early in 2016. “I think it would be an amazing fight, one that boxing fans all around are talking about because I really believe size is a big factor between me and him and the speed and the power as well. I really believe I have his number.” Early reactions to the richest fight in boxing history were mixed with Oscar de la Hoya, a former rival of both Mayweather and Pacquiao saying on Twitter: “Sorry boxing fans” and “call me old school but I like the fans getting their money’s worth by watching an action packed fight.” Former Irish champion Barry McGuigan agreed saying on his Twitter site “boringly one-sided” Others though praised the boxing skills of Mayweather as he took his unbeaten streak to 48 wins over 19 years. Former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, who had picked Pacquiao to win told Sky Sports: “It’s him. It’s who he is. It’s just his time at the moment.” AFP
LAS VEGAS—Fifty is a nice round number, but it can’t compare to the nine figures on the check Floyd Mayweather collected after beating Manny Pacquiao on Saturday. “For my team to hand me a $100 million check is remarkable,” said Mayweather, whose take from the long-awaited mega-fight with Pacquiao could eventually swell to as high as $200 million once all the record-breaking revenue is counted. The man who has named himself “Money” said the payout was all part of a “brilliant game plan” for his career. “My goal was to make nine figures in one night,” he said. The 38-year-old American, an 11-time world champion in five weight divisions, would have you believe that aim has been the driving force of a 19year career, in which he’s now won all 48 of his fights. Even as the clash with Pacquiao loomed -sparking massive global interest -- Mayweather was saying he was on his way out -- with just one more bout to come once he’d finally crossed Pacquiao off his to-do list. “Everyone’s been saying for years that I was scared and I would lose,” Mayweather said of fiveyears of finger-pointing as he and Pacquiao failed to get together. The passion’s fading, Mayweather says, and only a desire to keep his word and fulfill his sixfight Showtime contract will see him fight again in September. But a win in that fight would take his record to 490, matching the iconic mark of Rocky Marciano. Could he then really resist going for a 50th victory? “My last fight is in September, and then it’s time for me to hang it up,” the 38-year-old said. “I’m almost 40 years old now. I’ve been in this sport for 19 years and have been a champion for 18 years. I’m truly blessed.” Mayweather said his last fight might not even be a world title contest. He plans to relinquish his World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization titles -- maybe as early as next week. “My last fight may not be a championship fight,” he said. “I might give up all my belts.” “Why? Give other fighters a chance. I’m not greedy.”
...and ignores jeers LAS VEGAS—Floyd Mayweather shrugged off the jeers which greeted his victory over Manny Pacquiao and wasted no time in taunting his detractors. After hugging his father and trainer Floyd Sr, the unbeaten welterweight king clambered onto the ropes of the ring, banged his fist on his chest and declared to the crowd: “I told you! I told you!” It was a swift return to the brash persona Mayweather has perfected over the years, and which had been mostly hidden during the the build up to the bout, prompting some observers to wonder about his state of mind. In fact Mayweather was intent on giving a starstudded audience packed with sports and entertainment giants a masterclass of defensive skill and pinpoint accuracy as he extended his record to 48-0. NBA legends Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, actor-director Clint Eastwood, music icon Sting and power couple Beyonce and Jay-Z were just a few of the superstars packed into the MGM Grand Garden Arena, where precious ringside tickets sold for $10,000. By the time the fighters reached the arena floor —some 45 minutes late as some US cable operators struggled to meet the demand for pay-per-view orders —the atmosphere was electric. AFP