Sport
Mike Tyson draws with Roy Jones Jr as the heavyweight legends returned to the ring
Mike Tyson draws with Roy Jones Jr as heavyweight legends returned into the ring. Tyson, who was fighting 15 years after his last professional outing, dominated for long periods at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Jones, 51, who only retired in 2018, was content to hold for the duration and rarely landed a blow on his 54-year-old opponent.
Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr laboured to a predictable draw as the boxing legends returned to the ring for an exhibition bout. Tyson should have been given the nod by the three former world champion judges after eight two-minute rounds – but instead, the fight was scored even.
Tyson said: “I’m good with that. I’m good with a draw because I entertained the crowd and the crowd was happy with it. “I’m used to doing it for three minutes. I hope to go further, absolutely, and he can be on the card as well. “I was very happy to be here, despite what everyone says I was happy to go to eight rounds.
“Nobody thought I could go eight rounds, but you’ve got to go the distance, that’s boxing.” Tyson took the fight to Jones in the first round and the small ring played into his hands as he switched from head to body while Jones looked to hold.
Both men were breathing heavily after the opening salvo but Tyson continued to look the fresher in the second session as he landed his jab to the head and then followed up with a right hand. Jones insisted on holding on in the third round as he smothered Tyson and prevented him getting his shots off. The fight resembled a hugging contest at times with Tyson the only one looking to land his shots in the fourth session.
Tyson was again the sharper in the fifth round as he landed a counter left hook as Jones was left breathless as he headed back to his corner.
The sixth round was instantly forgettable as Jones struggled with his fitness but Tyson was able to land to the body in the penultimate session. Tyson connected to the body in the final round but Jones clung on to hear the bell before the decision was eventually announced.
Later it emerged Christy Martin gave Tyson the nod 79-73, Vinny Pazienza opted for Jones by a score of 80-76 while Chad Dawson scored it level at 76-76. Both men seemed keen to fight on, whether against each other or against new opponents.
Jones said: “We’ve got to do this again. Everybody loves Mike; I love Mike too but it’s something else taking punches from Mike. “I’ll go talk to my family, see how they feel about it and if they want to do it again, we’ll do it again.”
On the undercard, YouTube star Jake Paul delivered a sickening KO against former NBA star Nate Robinson.
Paul was fighting for the second time as a professional and dropped Robinson with his right hand. And when he did so for the third time, the former basketball player was left face down on the canvas and in need of lengthy treatment.
Earlier, former two-weight world champion Badou Jack won every round against the tough but outclassed Blake McKernan. There were also victories for the impressive Jamaine Ortiz who stopped Sulaiman Segawa and for Edward Vasquez who earned a split-decision win over Irvin Gonzalez.
Source – the mirror
Soccer fans in Nigeria have expressed their confidence that the Super Eagles will win the Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
The Nigerian team qualified for the finals after defeating South Africa in the semi-final round of the competition. They face hosts Ivory Coast for the last game of the tournament today.
This will be the second match between both teams. The elephants of Ivory Coast suffered a 1- 0 defeat in their encounter with the Super Eagles at the group stage. Nigerian soccer fans say they are confident that the team will also win the final game.
Moshood Olatunji says, “We’re taking the cup. We’re not bragging and we’re not being pretentious and we’re not underestimating any group. But I think the Nigerian team started slow and they really worked as a team. The thing they had that I could see was the teamwork. They play for each other, they’re not playing for the coach, they’re actually playing for each other as a team. And I think if they carry that attitude into the finals, there’s no stopping us.”
Maxwell Ogbaje says, “I’m not surprised that we got to where we are today. We actually have a strong team. We have been at our best. It’s not just by chance, people see it that the one zero, one zero has always been a lucky thing, but it’s not. There’s actually good effort from the team that has brought that success.”
“Let them keep doing what they are doing especially the back 5. It’s a fantastic tactic that the coach Peseiro has been able to knock the boys with, so they should do what they do. They should be tight behind and they should take their chances. They should hit them on the counter and I believe if they are able to do that and they stay together, then Nigeria will be able to carry the day,” says Sam Maimagani.
It’s the eighth time Nigeria has made it to the finals in the Africa Cup of Nations and the 4th for Ivory Coast.
Nigeria is already a three-time winner of the Africa Cup of Nations and a triumph in today’s encounter will make it the 4th in 10 years.
A win for Ivory Coast will make them a three-time champion of the AFCON. Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu is expected to be at the game today to cheer the Super Eagles to victory.
Source: SABC
In other news – Phelo Bala’s father has passed away
His death was announced by his stepson and musician Loyiso Bala on Saturday, 10 February on his social media platforms. Jafta died this morning in the hospital.
The Bala Family is deeply saddened to announce the passing of our beloved father, Sebenzile Jafta. He departed this morning. Read more
Bayern Munich leapfrogged rivals Borussia Dortmund to clinch their 11th consecutive Bundesliga title in a last-day drama in German football on Saturday, May 27.
In a climactic season finale, Bayern Munich ended up celebrating an unexpected title win while Dortmund’s dream of their first league trophy since 2012 was left in tatters following a 2-2 draw with Mainz.
Dortmund were leading by two points before their last match for the season but were held to a 2-2 draw at home by Mainz on Saturday, allowing Bayern to finish in first place with a goal difference.
RB Leipzig and sensational Union Berlin are third and fourth respectively and will also compete in the Champions League next season.
Hertha Berlin and Schalke 04 have been relegated, while VfB Stuttgart will go into the relegation playoff.
In other news – Celine Dion cancels 2023-2024 shows over health
Last year Celine Dion revealed that she was suffering from a rare neurological disorder. The Pop icon on Friday canceled all her remaining shows scheduled for 2023-2024, saying she was not strong enough to tour as she battles a rare neurological disorder.
Last year the 55-year-old Canadian singer revealed that she was suffering from the rare medical condition that was affecting her singing. Learn More
India is looking to a new generation of talented young cricketers led by teenage batter Shafali Verma to propel them to a first Women’s T20 World Cup title this month. Long-serving skipper Mithali Raj and record-breaking fast bowler Jhulan Goswami, trailblazers for women’s cricket in India, both retired last year.
New captain Harmanpreet Kaur said both players are still on hand to give advice, but it is time to look forward. Whenever we need they are always available to us, that’s what you expect from senior players,” the 33-year-old told a recent press conference.
“Nobody can fill their places, but the young girls who are getting the chances are doing well. One of the players who has grabbed her chance is Verma, an attacking opening batter who led India to victory in the inaugural U19 T20 World Cup in South Africa last month.
The 19-year-old will be back on familiar ground for the T20 World Cup, which is again in South Africa. It starts on February 10 and India are chasing a breakthrough first title, having been runners-up behind hosts Australia in the last edition, in 2020. Their first match is against arch-rivals Pakistan on February 12 in Cape Town.
Verma made her international debut at the age of just 15 and was in the team that reached the T20 World Cup final in 2020.
She also played in the one-day World Cup and was a member of the Indian side which took silver at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The youngster looks up to big-hitting England batsman Liam Livingstone for inspiration and considers Indian great Sachin Tendulkar a role model. After captaining India to victory in the U19 World Cup, Verma said: “This is just the beginning.”
“When I entered the Under-19s, I only focused on winning the Under-19 Cup and we have won that today,” ESPNCricinfo quoted her as saying. I will look to take this winning confidence with me and win the senior World Cup.”
Besides Verma, the India team also includes Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma and Renuka Singh. The women’s game is making inroads in the cricket-mad country, with the inaugural Women’s Premier League set for March, ahead of the men’s IPL.
Last month, India’s cricket board auctioned off five women’s IPL teams for $572.5 million. The new generation “are ready to be the representatives of the modern generation of women’s cricketers”, cricket journalist Sharda Ugra told AFP.
“The women’s IPL is going to start and they are the perfect representation of the kind of Indian women cricketers that belong to the T20 generation. They have the right mindset and they are very, very talented.
Source: eNCA
In other news – Idols SA canceled after 21 years
Idols SA is reportedly coming to an end after 21 years of entertainment. Phil Mphela, an entertainment commentator announced the latest development about the show on Twitter.
After 21 years, #IdolsSA will be bowing out of our screens. The show has been renewed for a 19th season, which will be the show’s final season,” he wrote. Learn more