Wednesday, December 26, 2018
Fulham vs Wolves 1:30pm
Liverpool vs Newcastle 4:00pm
Leicester vs Man City 4:00pm
Burnley vs Everton 4:00pm
Man United vs Huddersfield 4:00pm
Tottenham vs Bournemouth 4:00pm
C/Palace vs Cardiff City 4:00pm
Brighton vs Arsenal 6:15pm
Watford vs Chelsea 8:30pm
THURSDAY:
Southampton vs West Ham 8:45pm
Monday, 24 December 2018
Thursday, 6 December 2018
Referee Reiss defends Wilder/Fury knockdown drama
Referee Jack Reiss has lifted the lid on the stunning few moments after Tyson Fury was savagely knocked down in the early hours of Sunday, December 2 by Deontay Wilder - and explained why he allowed the Gypsy King to continue.
Fury and Wilder battled to a controversial draw in Los Angeles on Saturday night, with the challenger twice climbing off the canvas to hear the final bell.
Wilder looked set to continue his impressive knockout record when he floored Fury in the final round, leaving the heavyweight flat on his back and seemingly out for the count.
But Fury somehow rose to his feet and survived the rest of the fight. Reiss has been lauded for his decision not to wave the fight off and now the referee has explained the thinking behind his decision.
KNOCKDOWN RULES:
A knockout occurs when an boxer is floored by his opponent or otherwise is down and the referee reaches the count of 10 before the boxer is back on his/her feet.
Even if a fighter rises to his/her feet, referees will check they are fit to continue before the waving the fight on.
Fighters are often made to walk towards the referee to check they're on steady legs. On Saturday, Reiss asked Fury to walk towards the corner of the ring and asked him if he could carry on.
"I was evaluating these guys throughout the whole fight (and) in the 12th round, they'd boxed their hearts out, threw a lot of punches but there wasn't a lot of heavy damage taken by either guy," he told SiriusXM Boxing.
"They both moved into the 12th round tired but not extremely hurt. When (Fury) got hit and he went down hard, that was an unbelievable knockdown.
"Two things went through my mind - No 1 always count a champion out and No 2
give this guy the benefit of the doubt and let's see how he still is.
"So when I went down to count... not only did I get down, I scooted in so he could see my hand and hear my voice."
Fury was floored by a huge right hand-left hook combination that snapped his head back and sent him crashing into the canvas.
Though he lay motionless on his back for several seconds, Reiss always knew he was not knocked out.
"I said three, four... he was grimacing, his eyes and his cheeks, he was grimacing so I knew he was awake and then when I said five his eyes popped open like I startled him," the official added.
"He rolled over and got up and said "I'm OK! Jack I'm OK" or whatever he said.'
"I said, "Do you want to continue?", he said "Yes" and put his arms on my
shoulders. I pushed his arms off and said walk over there, come back to me and show me you're OK. He did and we let it go."
Reiss has come under fire from some observers, who claim he gave the Gypsy King more than his allocated time to recover.
But the referee hit back at his critics, insisting: 'The 10 count doesn't mean 10 seconds.
"It is the referee's opportunity to make sure the fighter who is hurt can intelligently defend himself because you're about let a guy come hurtling across the ring and finish this guy.
"People started making them walk in a straight line, any drunk can walk in straight line. Doctors taught us it is hard to hide things are off when they have to change direction. That's what I was doing."
........................
Caption Photo 1:
Referee Jack (right) attending to embattled Fury after beating the mandatory count following a knockdown he received at the hands of Wilder.
Photo 2: Fury (down) receiving the mandatory count from referee Jack.
Fury and Wilder battled to a controversial draw in Los Angeles on Saturday night, with the challenger twice climbing off the canvas to hear the final bell.
Wilder looked set to continue his impressive knockout record when he floored Fury in the final round, leaving the heavyweight flat on his back and seemingly out for the count.
But Fury somehow rose to his feet and survived the rest of the fight. Reiss has been lauded for his decision not to wave the fight off and now the referee has explained the thinking behind his decision.
KNOCKDOWN RULES:
A knockout occurs when an boxer is floored by his opponent or otherwise is down and the referee reaches the count of 10 before the boxer is back on his/her feet.
Even if a fighter rises to his/her feet, referees will check they are fit to continue before the waving the fight on.
Fighters are often made to walk towards the referee to check they're on steady legs. On Saturday, Reiss asked Fury to walk towards the corner of the ring and asked him if he could carry on.
"I was evaluating these guys throughout the whole fight (and) in the 12th round, they'd boxed their hearts out, threw a lot of punches but there wasn't a lot of heavy damage taken by either guy," he told SiriusXM Boxing.
"They both moved into the 12th round tired but not extremely hurt. When (Fury) got hit and he went down hard, that was an unbelievable knockdown.
"Two things went through my mind - No 1 always count a champion out and No 2
"So when I went down to count... not only did I get down, I scooted in so he could see my hand and hear my voice."
Fury was floored by a huge right hand-left hook combination that snapped his head back and sent him crashing into the canvas.
Though he lay motionless on his back for several seconds, Reiss always knew he was not knocked out.
"I said three, four... he was grimacing, his eyes and his cheeks, he was grimacing so I knew he was awake and then when I said five his eyes popped open like I startled him," the official added.
"He rolled over and got up and said "I'm OK! Jack I'm OK" or whatever he said.'
"I said, "Do you want to continue?", he said "Yes" and put his arms on my
shoulders. I pushed his arms off and said walk over there, come back to me and show me you're OK. He did and we let it go."
Reiss has come under fire from some observers, who claim he gave the Gypsy King more than his allocated time to recover.
But the referee hit back at his critics, insisting: 'The 10 count doesn't mean 10 seconds.
"It is the referee's opportunity to make sure the fighter who is hurt can intelligently defend himself because you're about let a guy come hurtling across the ring and finish this guy.
"People started making them walk in a straight line, any drunk can walk in straight line. Doctors taught us it is hard to hide things are off when they have to change direction. That's what I was doing."
........................
Caption Photo 1:
Referee Jack (right) attending to embattled Fury after beating the mandatory count following a knockdown he received at the hands of Wilder.
Photo 2: Fury (down) receiving the mandatory count from referee Jack.
Tuesday, 4 December 2018
Anthony Joshua is a 'chicken'--Tyson Fury
Fury was knocked down twice by Wilder but boxed brilliantly in an enthralling 12-round encounter in Los Angeles and can count himself desperately unlucky not to be returning to England with the American’s WBC belt.
The 30-year-old accepted the verdict of the judges – with Wilder given the nod 115-111 on one card, Fury 114-110 on another and the third scoring the fight 113-113 – and paid tribute to his opponent.
But he was scathing about Joshua, the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion, when he gave his post-fight interview in the ring.
Fury said: “There is another certain heavyweight out there… chicken, chicken! Where are you AJ? Where are you?”
Fury and Wilder both said they are keen on a rematch, and their draw is set to scupper Joshua’s plans for 2019.
Joshua has Wembley booked for April 13 and been hoping to face Wilder in a unification showdown.
But that now looks highly unlikely with Fury and Wilder’s thrilling clash likely to result in a rematch.
Fury said: “We’ll do the rematch but we’re going to go away, recalculate, see what’s going to happen. We are two great champions. Never mind anybody else, me and this man here are the two greatest heavyweights on the planet.”
Wilder insisted he should have got the decision, having twice knocked down Fury, but was also keen to pay his respect to his opponent.
He added: “When you’re at each other and you have a great fight, we give each other all we’ve got. At the end of the fight that’s what it’s all about.
“He was just telling me what a great fight, he loves me, and thank you for the opportunity. We’re the best in the world. The respect was mutual.
“I was rushing my punches. That’s something I usually don’t do. I couldn’t let it go tonight.
“I was forcing my punches too much instead of sitting back being patient and waiting it.
“I really wanted to get him out of there give the fans what they want to see.
“I didn’t feel no pressure at all. When I rush my punches like that I’m never accurate. The rematch I guarantee I’m going to get him.
“I would love for it to be my next fight (on the rematch). Why not? Let’s give the fans what they want to see. It was a great fight and let’s do it again. It doesn’t matter to me where we do it.
“We’re the two best in the world and we proved it tonight. When you get two warriors you get a great fight. That’s what we proved tonight and I’m ready to do it again.”
...................
Caption:
Fury (right) during his bout with Wilder in Los Angeles, USA, in the early hours of Sunday.
Tuesday, 27 November 2018
AWCON 2018: Falcons in last hurdle to 2019 World Cup
The game is scheduled to kick off at 4:30 pm Nigeria time at the Accra Sports Stadium and a win by either side also guarantees a ticket to the 2019 World Cup in France.
Nigeria boast a near a 95 per cent dominance over Cameroon in women's football but this will be put aside today in Ghana, when both sides clash again more importantly to secure the World Cup slot for next year.
The defending champions, Nigeria started their campaign with a loss to the Banyana Banyana of South Africa, and this has remained a warning signal to the Thomas Dennerby-side, who are going for the ninth African title.
Nigeria striker Desire Oparanozie describes today's match as a final of sorts.
“It will be the final before the final. We beat them in the final both in 2014 and also in 2016, they want their revenge. So, we know what to expect and we are ready,” France-based Oparanozie said.
Reigning women's African Footballer of the Year, Asisat Oshoala, who won the Woman Of The Match (WOTM) award after scoring a hat-trick against Equatorial Guinea last weekend is wary of the threat that the Lionesses could pose today.
''We all know Cameroon is going to be a very difficult game obviously, they are a very good side, difficult side to play,'' Oshoala said.
''We've met Cameroon three times, we've beaten them in the semi-final and finals, so it is going to be a difficult game for us on Tuesday, we all know about that.
''We want to thank the Federation, the President of Nigeria, we want to thank Nigerians and everyone who has been making sure the camp has been in order so far in terms of players' bonuses and everything.
''Everything is in order in the camp so I think come Tuesday everyone is ready to give 100 per cent.''
Meanwhile, South Africa face Mali also today at 7:30pm in the other semi-final pairing.
Caption: Nigeria's Asisat Oshoala ready for a showdown with Cameroon.
Tuesday, 13 November 2018
ATP Finals: Djokovic hammers Isner in group opener
World number one Novak Djokovic underlined why he is favourite to win the ATP Finals with a commanding win over John Isner in their group opener, reports www.bbc.com/sport/tennis.
The Serb, 31, was in devastating form as he easily dealt with the big serves of American Isner in a 6-4, 6-3 victory.
World number 10 Isner, making his debut at the season-ending tournament, was broken in the fifth game of the first set and seventh of the second.
Djokovic then sealed the win on Isner's serve with a cross-court backhand.
Earlier in the day, Alexander Zverev beat Marin Cilic in straight sets in the other match in the Gustavo Kuerten group.
With world number three Roger Federer having slumped to a surprise defeat by Kei Nishikori in his opening group match on Sunday, the path for Djokovic to a sixth title at the tournament seems ever clearer.
He was already helped by the withdrawal through injury of world numbers two and four Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro and after this performance he is an even hotter favourite.
An encounter between the leading server on the Tour in Isner and the best returner was an intriguing prospect, but it was soon clear who would have the upper hand.
Isner is a player synonymous with tie-breaks - so impenetrable is his serve - but Djokovic already had him under pressure in the opening game with a break point.
Although he netted his shot to squander the chance, and then missed another in the third, he made no mistake in the fifth game when he broke with a beautiful baseline return from yet another thundering first serve from the American.
Djokovic's own serving was impeccable, winning six of his service games to love, to give Isner no chance of a breakthrough.
He sealed his first break in the second set when Isner netted a forehand in the seventh game and then set up three match points on Isner's next service game - eventually wrapping up victory on the third one with a fantastic backhand crosscourt winner after one hour 13 minutes.
"I had three breaks of serve of John which is sometimes 'mission impossible' but I managed to be at right place at the right time," said Djokovic.
"I held serve well, I backed it up from the baseline, I played very solid and didn't give him many opportunities."
Isner, who at 33 is the oldest debutant at the season-ending finals since Andres Gimeno in 1972, had qualified for the tournament as a result of Nadal and Del Potro's withdrawals.
He has enjoyed his most successful year - reaching his maiden Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon, winning his first Masters 1000 title at Miami and finishing the season ranked inside the world's top 10 for the first time.
And he was not overawed by his first appearance on this stage - still managing to deliver 13 aces and serves of more than 140mph, including some second serves reaching more than 125mph.
But the most telling number was the 66 per cent of first-serve points won by a player whose average for the season is a huge 81 per cent.
That is testament to the returning of Djokovic, who kept reading the serves and getting his racquet to whatever was thrown at him time and again.
And the Serb's own percentage of first-serve points won was 86 per cent, which is more the kind of figure Isner is used to posting.
.........................
ECSTASY: Djokovic in joyous mood after his victory over Isner.
.....................
The Serb, 31, was in devastating form as he easily dealt with the big serves of American Isner in a 6-4, 6-3 victory.
World number 10 Isner, making his debut at the season-ending tournament, was broken in the fifth game of the first set and seventh of the second.
Djokovic then sealed the win on Isner's serve with a cross-court backhand.
Earlier in the day, Alexander Zverev beat Marin Cilic in straight sets in the other match in the Gustavo Kuerten group.
With world number three Roger Federer having slumped to a surprise defeat by Kei Nishikori in his opening group match on Sunday, the path for Djokovic to a sixth title at the tournament seems ever clearer.
He was already helped by the withdrawal through injury of world numbers two and four Rafael Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro and after this performance he is an even hotter favourite.
An encounter between the leading server on the Tour in Isner and the best returner was an intriguing prospect, but it was soon clear who would have the upper hand.
Isner is a player synonymous with tie-breaks - so impenetrable is his serve - but Djokovic already had him under pressure in the opening game with a break point.
Although he netted his shot to squander the chance, and then missed another in the third, he made no mistake in the fifth game when he broke with a beautiful baseline return from yet another thundering first serve from the American.
Djokovic's own serving was impeccable, winning six of his service games to love, to give Isner no chance of a breakthrough.
He sealed his first break in the second set when Isner netted a forehand in the seventh game and then set up three match points on Isner's next service game - eventually wrapping up victory on the third one with a fantastic backhand crosscourt winner after one hour 13 minutes.
"I had three breaks of serve of John which is sometimes 'mission impossible' but I managed to be at right place at the right time," said Djokovic.
"I held serve well, I backed it up from the baseline, I played very solid and didn't give him many opportunities."
Isner, who at 33 is the oldest debutant at the season-ending finals since Andres Gimeno in 1972, had qualified for the tournament as a result of Nadal and Del Potro's withdrawals.
He has enjoyed his most successful year - reaching his maiden Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon, winning his first Masters 1000 title at Miami and finishing the season ranked inside the world's top 10 for the first time.
And he was not overawed by his first appearance on this stage - still managing to deliver 13 aces and serves of more than 140mph, including some second serves reaching more than 125mph.
But the most telling number was the 66 per cent of first-serve points won by a player whose average for the season is a huge 81 per cent.
That is testament to the returning of Djokovic, who kept reading the serves and getting his racquet to whatever was thrown at him time and again.
And the Serb's own percentage of first-serve points won was 86 per cent, which is more the kind of figure Isner is used to posting.
.........................
ECSTASY: Djokovic in joyous mood after his victory over Isner.
.....................
Tuesday, 6 November 2018
Anthony Joshua is a coward----Wilder
Deontay Wilder has warned Tyson Fury he is a ‘killer’ and ready to put his life on the line when they finally meet in the ring as he described WBA, WBO and IBF world champion,
Anthony Joshua as a coward, reports talksport.com.
Wilder, will put his WBC heavyweight championship belt on the line against the undefeated Fury in Las Vegas on December 1.
The American refused to talk about the man he feels robbed him of a lucrative unification fight.
“I don’t have a message for Anthony Joshua,” the 33-year-old added. “It’s all about Tyson Fury.
“I don’t want anyone to ask me about Anthony Joshua. He was a coward and that’s that.”
Like his English counterpart, Wilder is undefeated from all his previous fights and is widely regarded as one of the best heavyweights in the world right now.
However, not since Joshua’s victory over Wladimir Klitschko in 2017 has there been such hype around a heavyweight title fight.
With many fans and pundits believing the hard-hitting American will be too strong for the 29-year-old after just two comeback fights, the champion himself has dome strong words for his challenger.
“I’m feeling wonderful. My mindset has changed, my body has changed, I feel like a killer. I’m transformed into a killer,” Wilder told reporters on Monday.
“When it’s time for fighting and I’m risking my life, I turn into the Bronze Bomber.
“When I’m in the ring it’s a different thing than when I’m just Deontay Wilder.”
A proposed undisputed world heavyweight title fight between Wilder and Joshua was proposed for September, but the Englishman was instead forced to face mandatory WBA challenger Alexander Povetkin at Wembley.
After securing a seventh-round stoppage, Joshua has talked up again the possibility of a fight with the Bronze Bomber, but also welcomed the possibility of fighting the winner of the Dillian Whyte v Dereck Chisora rematch.
Caption: Wilder.
Wilder, will put his WBC heavyweight championship belt on the line against the undefeated Fury in Las Vegas on December 1.
The American refused to talk about the man he feels robbed him of a lucrative unification fight.
“I don’t have a message for Anthony Joshua,” the 33-year-old added. “It’s all about Tyson Fury.
“I don’t want anyone to ask me about Anthony Joshua. He was a coward and that’s that.”
Like his English counterpart, Wilder is undefeated from all his previous fights and is widely regarded as one of the best heavyweights in the world right now.
However, not since Joshua’s victory over Wladimir Klitschko in 2017 has there been such hype around a heavyweight title fight.
With many fans and pundits believing the hard-hitting American will be too strong for the 29-year-old after just two comeback fights, the champion himself has dome strong words for his challenger.
“I’m feeling wonderful. My mindset has changed, my body has changed, I feel like a killer. I’m transformed into a killer,” Wilder told reporters on Monday.
“When it’s time for fighting and I’m risking my life, I turn into the Bronze Bomber.
“When I’m in the ring it’s a different thing than when I’m just Deontay Wilder.”
A proposed undisputed world heavyweight title fight between Wilder and Joshua was proposed for September, but the Englishman was instead forced to face mandatory WBA challenger Alexander Povetkin at Wembley.
After securing a seventh-round stoppage, Joshua has talked up again the possibility of a fight with the Bronze Bomber, but also welcomed the possibility of fighting the winner of the Dillian Whyte v Dereck Chisora rematch.
Caption: Wilder.
Nadal to undergo surgery on ankle injury, out of ATP Finals
Rafael Nadal will miss November's season-ending ATP Finals in London and have surgery on an ankle injury.
Nadal withdrew from last month's Paris Masters with an abdominal muscle injury, meaning Novak Djokovic replaced him as world number one.
The Spaniard, 32, said that since he was still suffering with that injury, he would "take advantage of the moment" and have an operation on his ankle.
American John Isner takes Nadal's place at the eight-player event in London.
In a post on social media, 17-time Grand Slam champion Nadal wrote: "It has been a complicated year, very good at the tennis level when I was able to play, and at the same time very bad as far as injuries are concerned.
"Unfortunately, I had the abdominal problem in Paris last week and, in addition, I have a free body in the ankle joint that has to be removed in the operating room today.
"It is true that we had detected it for a long time and from time to time it bothered me. However, since the problem in the abdominal muscle also prevents me from playing in London, we take advantage of the moment to remove the free body and avoid future problems.
"This way I hope to be in full condition for the next season."
Nadal has retired from two of the three hard-court events he has competed at this season - the Australian Open and the US Open - but won the other, the Rogers Cup.
The Spaniard's absence from London means 14-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic will end the year as the world number one for the fifth time in his career: level with Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors, and one behind Pete Sampras.
Caption: Nadal during this year's French Open.
Nadal withdrew from last month's Paris Masters with an abdominal muscle injury, meaning Novak Djokovic replaced him as world number one.
The Spaniard, 32, said that since he was still suffering with that injury, he would "take advantage of the moment" and have an operation on his ankle.
American John Isner takes Nadal's place at the eight-player event in London.
In a post on social media, 17-time Grand Slam champion Nadal wrote: "It has been a complicated year, very good at the tennis level when I was able to play, and at the same time very bad as far as injuries are concerned.
"Unfortunately, I had the abdominal problem in Paris last week and, in addition, I have a free body in the ankle joint that has to be removed in the operating room today.
"It is true that we had detected it for a long time and from time to time it bothered me. However, since the problem in the abdominal muscle also prevents me from playing in London, we take advantage of the moment to remove the free body and avoid future problems.
"This way I hope to be in full condition for the next season."
Nadal has retired from two of the three hard-court events he has competed at this season - the Australian Open and the US Open - but won the other, the Rogers Cup.
The Spaniard's absence from London means 14-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic will end the year as the world number one for the fifth time in his career: level with Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors, and one behind Pete Sampras.
Caption: Nadal during this year's French Open.
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