Boxing-Subdued Mayweather might not show up, jests Roach

April 30, 2015

Las Vegas, Apr 30: Manny Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, has a theory on why the usually verbose Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been subdued during the buildup to Saturday's hotly anticipated welterweight bout at the MGM Grand.

jests Roach"I am wondering if he (Mayweather) is going to show up, I really do," the bespectacled Roach told reporters with a smile before the two boxers held their final pre-fight media conference on Wednesday.

"His speech is very subdued and low-key. I don't think any fighter is afraid but I think he (Mayweather) was forced into a fight he didn't want to take. He didn't get to pick this opponent like he usually does."

American Mayweather, nicknamed 'Money', is undefeated as a professional and will step into the ring on Saturday as the favourite in his bid to improve on a perfect 47-0 record.

Known for his flamboyance and shrewd business acumen, Mayweather typically indulges in plenty of trash-talking to promote fights but has adopted a low-key approach ahead of a bout that is expected to to be the biggest-grossing of all time.

"I'm glad I was flashy and outspoken when I was younger but I'm close to the big 4-0," said the 38-year-old. "I don't have to bash anyone. I know what I can do.

"I don't focus on all the festivities going on. I just focus on being the best that I can be. When it comes down to it, it comes down to the two fighters."

STUDYING MAYWEATHER

Roach readily admits that he has studied more video tape of Mayweather than other fighter and felt that he and Filipino southpaw Pacquiao were now "100 percent" ready to hand the American his first ever defeat as a professional.

"We've had a great training camp," said Roach, who has seven times been voted trainer of the year by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

"We have more speed and more power and we are 100 percent ready for what he (Mayweather) will bring to the table.

"I have studied Floyd more than anyone else. I think we can outpoint him and win a decision. If the chance for a knock-out comes, it will be a bonus. We like being the underdog."

Roach was not at all concerned that the five-foot six-and-a-half inch (1.69m) Pacquiao, an eight-time world champion renowned for his aggressive approach, would concede height, weight and reach to the defense-minded Mayweather.

"Weight doesn't win fights, speed does," said Roach. "Manny is faster than ever and he's definitely hitting harder than ever.

"Mayweather is a good counter-puncher, but Manny has faster hands and his combinations are better. I'm really happy where we're at.”

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May 18,2020

Karachi, May 18: Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan believes it is at least five years too early to compare Virat Kohli and Babar Azam as the Indian skipper has proven himself in "every kind of situation" and the latter has not.

"Virat Kohli is far more experienced than Babar. He has at least five years more experience of top cricket and he is at the peak of his career," said Younis, Pakistan's leading run-getter in Tests.

"Kohli has far more exposure than Babar and he has been in every kind of situation and proven himself. No one gets 70 international centuries like that and this are proof of his class and abilities. He has scored runs in every situation and all opposition."

Younis said said Babar still has a long way to go.

"Babar has been in top cricket for just around five years. He has got a very impressive batting average across all three formats and he is getting better by the day.

"You see him batting and you can see he has got the same qualities that Kohli had at the start of his career."

Besides amassing 70 international hundreds, 31-year-old Kohli averages more than 50 in all three formats. The India skipper has scored more than 20,000 runs while 25-year-old Babar has 6680 runs across formats though the Pakistan limited overs skipper has played significantly lesser number of games.

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January 18,2020

Hobart, Jan 18: In a dream start to her second innings after a two-year break, Sania Mirza lifted the WTA Hobart International trophy with partner Nadiia Kichenok after edging out Shaui Peng and Shuai Zhang in the final, here on Saturday.

The unseeded Indo-Ukrainian pair pipped the second seed Chinese team 6-4, 6-4 in one hour 21 minutes.

Playing her first tournament after giving birth to son Izhaan, the 33-year-old Sania has begun well in the Olympic year as she warmed up for the Australian Open in style.

It is Sania's 42nd WTA doubles title and first since Brisbane International trophy in 2007 with American partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

Sania did not compete on the WTA circuit in the entire 2018 and 2019 seasons to start a family with Pakistani cricketer husband Shoaib Malik.

Sania and Nadiia began by breaking the Chinese players in the very first game of the match but only to drop serve in the next.

The two pairs played close games towards the end and at 4-4, 40-all, Sania and Nadiia got the crucial break, earning the opportunity to serve out the set.

There was no twist in 10th game with Sania and Nadiia comfortably pocketing the first set.

The second set could not have started better for them as they broke the Chinese rivals to take early lead and consolidated the break with an easy hold.

The game of the Chinese was falling apart as they dropped serve again in the third but broke back immediately to repair some damage.

Sania and Nadiia were now feeling the heat at 0-30 in the sixth game but Peng and Zhang let them hold serve for a 4-2 lead. The Chinese though kept fighting and made it 4-4 with another break in the eighth game.

The Indo-Ukraine team raised its game when it mattered as it broke Peng and Zhang for one final time in the ninth and served out the match in the next game.

Sania and Nadiia split USD 13580 as prize money and eared 280 ranking points each for their winning effort.

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May 14,2020

New Delhi, May 14: Mahendra Singh Dhoni is an unconventional and unique leader, whose biggest strength is his incredible gut feeling, says his Chennai Super Kings teammate Faf du Plessis.

The former South Africa skipper has spent considerable time with Dhoni after joining the Indian Premier League (IPL) side in 2011 and has been an integral part of its successful journey.

"He reads the others player really well and he uses that to make instinctive decisions on the field. He's got an incredible gut feeling on the game and I think that's his biggest strength," du Plessis said in a Facebook live session with Bangladesh ODI skipper Tamim Iqbal.

The 35-year-old said Dhoni changed his perception of how a captain should be.

"It was amazing for me to see how different M S was as a captain. I used to think a captain must speak all the time in team meetings etc but M S was completely different.

"He doesn't believe a lot in team meetings. He's a very instinctive captain he's got such a good cricket brain that he relies on it to make the right decisions on the field," du Plessis said of former India skipper.

Dhoni last played for India in World Cup semifinal last year and was expected to be back to playing competitive cricket at now-postponed IPL.

Calling Dhoni the best finisher he has played with, Du Plessis said no one can emulate what the dasher from Ranchi can do with the bat.

"He's extremely calm. I haven't played with someone who is a better finisher than him. It's just remarkable to watch him from the side of the field."

"If someone else tries to do it like him they won't be able to. He's just so unique like he times the ball so late he's got an incredible calmness. He knows his game and he picks a bowler and goes for it."

Du Plessis said that playing for CSK alongside Dhoni and under the guidance head coach Stephen Fleming has taught him a lot about leadership.

"I'm lucky to have started my journey there at CSK because I have really learned a lot from a leadership point of view. I tried to learn as much as possible from Dhoni and Stephen Fleming because both are great captains."

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