Venus Williams rallies to advance at Miami Open

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams stormed back from deficits in both sets to defeat qualifier Natalia Vikhlyantseva 7-5, 6-4 in the second round of the WTA Miami Open on Friday.
The 37-year-old American improved to 7-3 on the season as she clinched the victory on the second match point when the 21-year-old Russian smacked a forehand wide.
Williams trailed 2-5 in the first set but won five straight games to take the opener. She also rallied in the second set, falling behind 0-3 before winning six of the next seven for the victory.
Williams advances to the third round where she will face 29th seeded Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands, who outlasted American Varvara Lepchenko 5-7, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1.

Read More »

Deontay Wilder has vowed to prove that he is the best heavyweight boxer against Ortiz

Deontay Wilder has vowed to prove that he is the best heavyweight boxer, after he weighed in almost two stone lighter than Luis Ortiz for his WBC title defence in Brooklyn on Sunday morning.
The 32-year-old American will face the unbeaten Cuban southpaw for the seventh defence of his WBC belt.
Wilder, who weighed in at 15st 4lbs 13oz, is adamant Ortiz will struggle to cope with his “killer instinct” at the Barclays Center.
Asked if he expects his most difficult fight, Wilder said: “We will see when we get in the ring. On paper he has looked good against the opposition he has fought against.
“[However] He has never faced a Bronze Bomber, he has never faced a guy who has got more killer instinct than him.
“He has never faced a guy that just really want to rip his head off him and I really do want to put him down. I am the best and I am ready to show it come Saturday night that I am the best in the world.”
Wilder insists he is not bothered about coming in at his lightest weight since his pro debut in November 2008.
“Over and over again. All my [opponents] have outweighed me, so that is nothing – compared to where I have come from.
“Nothing compared to where I am going, so come Saturday night you are all in for a treat. I can’t wait,” he added.

Read More »

Scott Westgarth, dies after winning fight

British boxer, Scott Westgarth, has died following ill-health after a heavyweight bout on Saturday.

It was gathered that Westgarth looked uncomfortable as he was interviewed ringside after his points victory over Dec Spelman in Doncaster and was taken to hospital, having deteriorated backstage.

The 31-year-old who had been chasing an English title fight died in Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

Westgarth ‘s previous record was six wins, two losses and a draw.

Stefy Bull, Westgarth’s promoter, who confimed the incident, wrote on social media on Monday “God bless Scott Westgarth. To promote a boxing show and a young man doing a job he loves losing his life, I have no words.”

Spelman also reacted to the news, saying “absolutely heartbroken and lost for words: all continue to pray for Scott’s family and the people close to him: rest easy my friend.”

Read More »

Parker in top shape for heavyweight unification bout with Anthony Joshua

Joseph Parker is in tip-top condition ahead of his title unification fight with Anthony Joshua, according to the New Zealander’s coach, Kevin Barry, reports ibtimes.co.uk. Parker will face Joshua in Cardiff on March 31, with the winner walking away with the WBA, IBF, IBO and WBO heavyweight titles.
In the lead-up to their fight being announced, Joshua notably appeared on The Graham Norton Show where he discussed his plan of becoming the first heavyweight to hold all four major titles.When a picture of Parker appeared during the show, both Norton and “AJ” mocked his body and referred to the WBO heavyweight champion as a “pie-eater” in comparison to Joshua’s ripped physique.

While Parker did not take the jab the wrong way, it has only motivated him as Barry claims he is in better shape than he was for his last title defence against Hughie Fury back in September last year.“Joe has been very disciplined and on point,” Barry told stuff.co.nz. “His body looks really good. He is in much better shape already than he was for the Hughie Fury fight.

“He laughed at it [the pie-eater jokes]. He didn’t take it as an insult, he thought it was a fair cop, he’d put a few pounds on in his break. Joe likes a pie, but I can tell you this, he hasn’t eaten any pies in the last five weeks. He’s doing some great strength and conditioning work. I’m confident we are on track for a very good performance.

“Joe looks good, he’s going to look even better when he gets on the scales for the weigh-in and I think he will be ready for a career-defining performance in his biggest-ever challenge.”

The Parker camp is confident of making history as Barry had previously outlined what the 26-year-old has to do to emerge victorious against the Briton.However, if Joshua were to walk away with the WBO title on the night, it would simply be because he was the better fighter.

“It’s all going well… we are right on track, no excuses,” Barry added. “We both believe this is the right time to fight Anthony Joshua.“If we don’t get the result that we think we are going to get, it’s because we’re simply not good enough. There is no other reason. If we don’t beat him, it’s because he is the better fighter.

“But we are both very confident, we like where we are at, we are excited by the magnitude of this challenge. I’ve said all along, the biggest challenges bring the best out of Joseph.”

Read More »

Serena Williams reveals How she almost died giving birth to her daughter

American professional tennis player, Serena Williams, has revealed her near-death experience after giving birth to her daughter, Olympia in September.

This was contained in an article she wrote for CNN.

The former world’s number one said she got blood clot in her lungs, blocking one or more arteries.

“I almost died after giving birth to my daughter,” Williams wrote.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion Williams said she had to undergo emergency Cesarean section after her heart rate plummeted dramatically during contractions.

“But what followed just 24 hours after giving birth were six days of uncertainty.

“Because of my medical history with this problem I live in fear of this situation,” the American said.

Williams said that while recovering in the hospital, one day after the emergency CS, she felt short of breath and after some convincing on Williams’ part, the hospital staff finally sent for a CT scan and then put her on a life-saving drip.

She started coughing so much from the blood clots that her Cesarean wound popped open.

“I returned to surgery where the doctors found a large hematoma in my abdomen.

“Then I returned to the operating room for a procedure that prevents clots from travelling to my lungs.

“When I finally made it home to my family I had to spend six weeks of motherhood in bed.”

Williams praised the hospital staff saying “if it weren’t for their professional care, I wouldn’t be here today”.

She, however, did not reveal the name of the hospital in the CNN piece.

Read More »

Joshua urges fans to tune into ‘unmissable’ Okolie versus Chamberlain

Anthony Joshua has urged boxing fans not to miss the all-British showdown between Lawrence Okolie and Isaac Chamberlain this Saturday, reports metro.co.uk.

The rising cruiserweights put their undefeated statuses on the line to settle a long-running feud between the London pair.

Hackney’s Okolie and Brixton’s Chamberlain have enjoyed a tense build-up with the latter goading his opponent with a well-placed advert in the Hackey Gazette.

The ‘work wanted’ ripped into Okolie, mocking the 25-year-old’s education and past achievements.

The ad was just the latest attempt by both men to get under each other’s skin, with Okolie making a bet with Chamberlain’s coach that should his fighter fail to stop him he would retire from boxing. 

Joshua has helped guide Okolie through the pro ranks and expects his good friend to just about edge a close encounter.

‘When you are the power puncher and expected to KO everyone in round one or two, and then you find someone who is making you miss, it makes you question yourself,’ Joshua told Sky Sports.

‘In terms of predictions of who is going to win, I’m going to say Lawrence, because that’s my guy.

‘But in terms of how the fight will go, I think it will be epic and phenomenal, because they are going to push each other past round six, round eight, and go into the championship rounds.’

Joshua has been dipping his toes into the promotion world by helping to hype Okolie versus Chamberlain and will be ringside for the bout on Saturday.

Okolie (7-0) and Chamberlain (9-0) both boast a stellar knockout rate, and it will be the first time either man has headlined their own fight night.

Ted Cheeseman leads the undercard with a fight agianst Carson Jones, while Reece Bellotti is set to defend his Commonwealth featherweight strap against Ben Jones.

Heavyweight Nick Webb, middleweight Felix Cash, super-flyweight Charlie Edwards are all on the ticket, as well as Okolie’s fellow Team GB fighter, Joshua Buatsi.

Read More »

Federer defeats Cilic, claims 20th Grand Slam

Roger Federer on Sunday, successfully defended his Australian Open title, to land a record-equalling sixth title in Melbourne.

Playing in his 30th Grand Slam final, Federer was pushed all the way by Marin Cilic.

The Swiss eventually collected a landmark 20th Grand Slam with a 6-2 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 3-6 6-1 win in three hours and three minutes.

“I’m so happy, it’s unbelievable. It’s a dream come true and the fairytale continues.

“It’s been a long time waiting for this final. It’s easier in the afternoon, but when it’s at night you think about it all day.

“I’m happy it’s over now. After the year I had last year, it’s incredible,” an emotional Federer said during his on-court presentation.

Read More »

Venus Williams sent packing by Bencic in Australian Open

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams was knocked out of the Australian Open in straights sets by Swiss 20-year-old Belinda Bencic on Monday.

The fifth seed and last year’s finalist was shocked 6-3, 7-5 in the first round by the world number 78 in just under two hours on Rod Laver Arena.

It means for the first time since 1997 there will be no Williams sister in the second round at Melbourne Park after Serena pulled out following the birth of her daughter.

The last time it happened Steffi Graf was world number one and Bencic was still two months away from being born.

Bencic, who lost to Serena in straights sets at the same stage last year, said when she saw the draw she was prepared for another tough opener.

“I would like to have played someone easier,” she admitted. “When I was a little girl watching on TV I would never imagine I would play them.”

There was no sign of the drama to come until the seventh game when former world number seven Bencic, in form again after winning the Hopman Cup warm-up team event in Perth alongside Roger Federer, broke the Williams serve.

She then had to hold off an immediate fightback from the veteran American, saving five break points in an attritional game before a passing rain shower caused a 20-minute delay as the roof on Rod Laver Arena was closed.

They resumed with Bencic serving at deuce and the Swiss then crucially reeled off the next two points for 5-3 before breaking Williams again to take the opener 6-3.

Williams departed for a bathroom break and, seemingly refreshed, struck back at the start of the second, breaking Bencic’s opening service game.

But the Swiss was not to be denied and put the pressure back on the Williams serve and levelled on her third break point.

Bencic, who made her WTA Tour debut as a 14-year-old against Williams in Luxembourg in 2012, had never beaten the seven-time Grand Slam winner in four previous meetings.

And deep into the second set Williams was coming under constant pressure on her serve and, serving at 3-4 and 15-40, needing all her experience to reel off four points in row to level again.

But Bencic was not to be denied, coming from 0-30 on the Williams serve at 6-5 with the help of a ferocious backhand winner to get to match point and secured a famous victory.

Read More »