BRISBANE, Australia (AFP) — English challenger Gary Corcoran has claimed Australian World Boxing Organisation welterweight champion Jeff Horn is a “dirty” fighter ahead of their title bout in Brisbane on Wednesday. In an extraordinary media conference Monday, Corcoran’s camp provided a laptop presentation to indicate that Horn led with his head and left his head in the clinches. It is Horn’s first title defence since he upset Philippine boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, the winner of […]
Sports — International
NBA: Celtics breeze past slumping Pistons
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Eastern Conference-leading Boston Celtics avenged a November loss to Detroit on Sunday, handing the slumping Pistons a sixth straight NBA defeat 91-81. Al Horford scored 18 points, handed out six assists and pulled down nine rebounds for the Celtics. Kyrie Irving, able to play without the protective mask he had worn since suffering a facial fracture on November 10, added 16 points and Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown […]
PHL Arena to be the venue of 2023 FIBA World Cup, as PHL-Japan-Indonesia awarded hosting rights
(Eagle News) — The Philippine Arena will be the site of the 2023 FIBA World Cup after the three-nation consortium of the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia was chosen to host the prestigious international basketball competition. The International Basketball Federation or FIBA on Saturday, December 9, awarded the hosting rights for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 to Philippines/Japan/Indonesia. “This marks the first time in the competition’s history that it is to be staged in […]
NBA: Pacers halt Cavs win streak, Durant rises again
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Victor Oladipo tallied 33 points as the Indiana Pacers snapped the Cleveland Cavaliers’ NBA-leading 13-game win streak with a 106-102 victory on Friday. The Pacers drained 15 three point shots to end the run by the Cavaliers, who were trying to set a franchise record with 14 straight wins. “It was a good streak. We came in here and got beat, so it’s time to start a new one,” said coach Tyronn […]
Pacquiao says he is in talks to fight McGregor
(Agence France Presse) — Philippine boxing hero Manny Pacquiao said on Friday he has opened talks to fight mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor in April when he takes a break from his legislative duties. “If we can negotiate it, I have no problem. It is OK with both of us,” Pacquiao said when asked about reports he was seeking a match with McGregor who lost a megabucks boxing match in August against the unbeaten […]
NBA: Rockets down Jazz for eighth straight win
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The Houston Rockets, fueled by 29 points from James Harden, posted their eighth straight NBA victory on Thursday, 112-101 over the Utah Jazz. Ryan Anderson scored 23 points and Chris Paul added 18 points, 13 assists and nine rebounds for Houston, the Western Conference leaders who have now won 14 of their last 15 games. The Jazz coughed up eight turnovers in the first half, leading to 13 points […]
Football: Ronaldo wins fifth Ballon d’Or award
PARIS, France (AFP) — Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo won a record-equaling fifth Ballon d’Or award for the year’s best player on Thursday. The Real Madrid forward’s second successive win drew him level alongside Barcelona rival Lionel Messi on five Ballons d’Or, after the Argentinian took second in the vote, with Brazilian Neymar third. The 32-year-old was the top-scorer in last season’s Champions League as Real successfully defended the trophy with victory over Juventus in June, […]
Olympics chief seeks North Korea visit – report
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — Olympics chief Thomas Bach is hoping to visit North Korea as early as this month to discuss Pyongyang’s participation in the 2018 Winter Games, a report said Friday. South Korean organizers of the Pyeongchang Olympics are pushing for the North to compete as they hope to portray the event as a symbol of peace on the flashpoint peninsula. The North missed the October 30 deadline to confirm its participation, although […]
Olympic ban opens chasm between Russia’s athletes and leaders
by Thibault Marchandet and Marina Lapenkova Agence France Presse MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — The International Olympic Committee’s decision to ban Russia from the 2018 Winter Games over state-orchestrated doping has created an unprecedented split between the country’s athletes and politicians. On Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would not boycott next year’s Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, nor would it prevent athletes from taking part. It was a decision welcomed by IOC chief Thomas […]
NBA: Sixers ship discontented Okafor to Nets
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Jahlil Okafor, restless without a real role for the Philadelphia 76ers, was traded to the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday in exchange for forward Trevor Booker, the Sixers said. Philadelphia also sent guard Nik Stauskas to Brooklyn along with 2019 second-round draft selection that originally belonged to the New York Knicks. Okafor, 21, was drafted third overall by Philadelphia in 2015. But he had fallen out of favor in a […]
Pacquiao launches bid to unearth Chinese boxing stars
BEIJING, China (AFP) — Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao hopes to unearth the next Chinese world champion and help grow the sport with an academy in the largely untapped country. The 38-year-old, who controversially lost his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title to Australian Jeff Horn in July, was in Beijing this week. He and Chinese sports-development firm Dancing Sports held a signing ceremony that included plans to build a Manny Pacquiao International Boxing Academy in […]
NBA: Durant powers Warriors; James dominates Kings
LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Kevin Durant finished with 35 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for his ninth career triple double on Wednesday as the under-manned Golden State Warriors defeated the Charlotte Hornets 101-87. The Warriors won their fifth straight and the seventh in their last eight games despite playing without superstar Stephen Curry and forward Draymond Green. Durant had 16 points in the first quarter, quickly setting the tone for the game […]