I Will Rule Boxing For 10 Years - Anthony Joshua Boasts

Anthony Joshua believes he has 10 years to cement his boxing legacy, and victory over Alexander Povetkin is part of his journey to greatness.For all the talk of a future unification bout against Deontay Wilder and the threat posed by his Russian opponent, AJ said he is only concerned by how far he can go.

The heavyweight champion told Sky Sports: ‘It is not just about Povetkin and Wilder, it’s me and my legacy and what I can reach.‘I feel like I am back in a tournament like it was in the amateurs or the Olympics. I have to get past people like Povetkin to fulfill my legacy.’

Joshua and Povetkin posed for pictures together at Wembley Stadium after the press conference and there was no animosity between the pair as they smiled and shook hands.The IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO champion also revealed he has changed his mentality regarding opponents.‘I used to concentrate on the opponent and always worried what was next,’ he added.

‘I used to box within myself, stopped expressing myself and fulfilling my potential to become a great world champion. ‘It creates a great fight, I can’t afford to get beat and Alex thinks he can beat me. ‘

Povetkin was respectful in his succinct responses and acknowledged the calibre of fighter he is stepping in against on September 22. ‘I want to say that Anthony Joshua has proved that he’s one of the strongest fighters here – and I’m excited about this fight,’ the 38-year-old said.

‘This fight will be all about experience.‘I know Anthony Joshua is a world champion, but we have been training hard for this fight.’Head of Matchroom Boxing Eddie Hearn also underlined the serious threat posed to Joshua’s record in the upcoming bout. ‘The pace that this young man is moving at and the challenge he is wiling to take is fantastic for the sport of boxing,’ said Hearn.Anthony Joshua wants to create a legacy and the only way you do that is by fighting real fighters,’ he concluded.

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Joshua Feels undisputed To Defeat Povetkin, Wilder, Others And Create Huge Boxing Legacy

Anthony Joshua is eager to cement a legacy in heavyweight boxing with a win against Alexander Povetkin.

Joshua holds three of the four major heavyweight belts. Deontay Wilder has the other one – the World Boxing Council (WBC) title

Joshua who holds the International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Association (WBA),
6 World Boxing Organisation (WBO) and the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) heavyweight titles, says that his plan is to become part of boxing folklore by leaving a massive legacy before quitting in about ten years.

“I feel like, right now, I’m back in a tournament stage, where I have to get through Povetkin and I have to get through Wilder and I have to get through who’s next in order to create this legacy,” the 28-year-old told a news conference at Wembley on Wednesday ahead of his bout against Povetkin .

“I’ve always done it for fun. I’ve had fun with it because I preferred the lifestyle it presented me.

“Now, I’m dead serious about this business. This is chapter two for me and Povetkin is the first on my list.”

“Massive respect to Povetkin. When two lions meet & you hear a lil pup barking, don’t play with big cats.. That’s a warning.

“I used to concentrate on the opponents and I was always worrying about what was next. It was, ‘I don’t want to make mistakes with this opponent.’ I started boxing within myself, I stopped expressing myself.

joshua-povetkin-completesportsnigeria-csn

“Even though I have these titles, it’s about proving your stock worth every time you fight. It’s not just about Povetkin, it’s not just about Wilder, it’s about me, my legacy and reaching my potential.

“All comers are welcome and, in this chapter, my mindset is different because I understand what I’m involved in. Alexander is the first person on my list.

“I think I’ve got 10 years left in boxing and I want to cement my legacy.”

Joshua who is unbeaten in his last 21 bouts burst into the public eye with his gold medal in the super-heavyweight division of the 2012 Olympic Games.

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Wilder finally agrees to fight Anthony Joshua in Britain

American Deontay Wilder has agreed terms to fight Anthony Joshua in Britain later this year, in a bout that would crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 2000.

Wilder’s co-manager, Shelly Finkel told ESPN they had agreed to the latest terms offered by Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn.

“We have agreed to the terms that Eddie has put out to us for a fight in the U.K. Deontay has accepted his terms to fight in the U.K.,” Finkel said.

Wilder, in a message posted on his Twitter account, confirmed he had agreed to fight in Britain but said an offer to Joshua of $50 million to fight in the United States was still on the table.

“The $50M offer for him to fight me next in the US is still available,” Wilder said on Monday.

“Today I even agreed to their offer to fight Joshua next in the UK. If he prefers the fight in the UK, the ball is in their court.”

The WBC title is the only one remaining on Joshua’s radar after he added the WBO championship to his collection, by defeating New Zealand’s Joseph Parker in a March by unanimous decision.

Joshua (21-0) is the holder of the IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO titles while Wilder (40-0) is the WBC world champion.

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Joshua beats Parker on points in world heavyweight title fight

Anthony Joshua was taken the distance for the first time in his professional career before winning a unanimous points decision in his world heavyweight title unification fight with Joseph Parker in Cardiff on Saturday.
After 12 rounds, Britain’s Joshua triumphed 118-110, 118-110, 119-109 on the three judges’ scorecards.

Victory extended the London 2012 Olympic champion’ perfect pro record to 21 wins from as many bouts but was the first in which he’d failed to do so by a knockout.
It also saw International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association champion Joshua add Parker’s World Boxing Organisation belt to his collection.
This result was New Zealand boxer Parker’s first defeat in his 25-fight pro career.
Saturday’s contest in front of a 78,000 capacity crowd at the Principality Stadium was the first time two previously undefeated heavyweight champions had met for a world title in Britain.
Joshua’s win should move him closer to a bout against Deontay Wilder, the American who holds the World Boxing Council’s version of the heavyweight title.
Wilder had been due at ringside but didn’t show and a confident Joshua, speaking to Sky Sports, after his win was confirmed: “Wilder, let’s go baby.
“Bring him here and I’ll knock him spark out.”
Parker added: “Remember that I am the unified heavyweight champion of the world.
“That is 21 professional fights with six world title fights in it.
“My strategy was to stick behind the jab and that secured me another world title belt.”
With Joshua earning a reported £15 million and Parker £7 million, this was easily the biggest fight of the beaten boxer’s career.
“I lost to the better champion tonight,” said Parker.
“We will back again stronger and I’m happy I went the twelve rounds.”
Shortly before the bout started, Parker’s promoter, David Higgins, came to the press seats at ringside while an undercard bout was taking place to allege Joshua’s camp had tried to get his boxer’s hand wraps changed in a bid to unsettle his man.
Higgins said a Welsh supervisor, acting at the behest of Joshua’s camp tried to get Parker’s hand wrap changed before he in turn complained to Robert Smith, the general secretary of the British Boxing Board of Control.
Higgins insisted Parker’s hands were being wrapped just the same way as they had been for all the fighter’s previous professional fights, with Smith, he said, allowing the binding to stay as it was.
Joshua had weighed in at 17st 4lbs (110.4kgs) on Friday, well down from a career high of 18st 2lbs (115.5) against Carlos Takam last time out, while Parker came in at 16st 12lbs (102.3).
As Parker’s mother looked on from ringside, Joshua took charge in the centre of the ring early in the first round.
A cut around Parker’s left eye was evident from the third round.
Joshua tagged Parker with a solid left in the fourth and landed again seconds before the bell ended that round.
But Parker made some good connections in the fifth and there was a furious exchange early in the sixth, before Italian referee Giuseppe Quartarone intervened.
Joshua, having been struck late when the referee tried to break up the fight, incurred the wrath of Parker’s trainer, Kevin Barry, when he too landed late in the eighth round.
Both boxers were frustrated by the referee’s early interventions just when it seemed either one of them might unload with a sequence of punches.
The cut round Parker’s left eye worsened and blood emerged from the wound in the tenth round.
But a game Parker kept going and the boos at the end of the contest appeared to be aimed at the referee rather than the boxers.

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Wilder awaits, but heavyweight Joshua has eyes only for Parker Read more

Anthony Joshua heads into his bout against rival world heavyweight champion Joseph Parker in Cardiff on Saturday with Deontay Wilder lying in wait — but the Briton insists he is not looking beyond this fight. Joshua- Parker Joshua is putting his International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association titles on the line against World Boxing Organisation champion Parker in front of an expected 78,000 sell-out crowd at the Principality Stadium. It will be the first time two undefeated heavyweight champions have met in a title fight in the United Kingdom, with the British Olympic gold medallist boasting a professional record of 20 wins, including 20 knockouts, from as many contests, while New Zealander Parker has stopped 18 of his opponents inside the distance during an unbeaten 24-fight career. But next in line for the winner is Deontay Wilder, the American who holds the World Boxing Council version of the heavyweight title. “It’s 1,000 percent one fight at a time,” Joshua told a news conference at the London headquarters of broadcaster Sky Sports. “My future stops on Saturday. One fight at a time. All this talk about Wilder. I’m looking at Parker, he’s a champion for a reason.” Joshua added: “He (Parker) is quick and he can take a punch but that is what I have heard, so I am repeating what people are saying. “Let’s say I’ve got £20 in my pocket, looking at myself I believe Anthony Joshua knocks out Joseph Parker for sure.” Joshua had been accused by Parker of showing disrespect to travelling New Zealand media by failing to grant them a separate interview slot last week. – ‘Take care of business’ – But he insisted that, after several hours of press duties, he had to eat before heading off for another training session. “People thought I walked out on the New Zealand press but that wasn’t the case, I had to make a move and I was willing to return,” Joshua said. “Unless I take care or business, no one is going to interview me.” Meanwhile Joshua said he was in the best shape of his career after dethroning Wladimir Klitschko in a brutal battle and seeing off Carlos Takam. “Every fight has been a learning fight and every camp a learning camp,” he explained. “I learnt from the Klitschko fight I shouldn’t use camp to get fit. I took everything I didn’t know then into this camp. I’ve been working solely on my technique and ability. “Takam was game, he was a lot shorter, he was in great shape. I wanted to control him. I knew there would be a big 2018 on the horizon.” Parker, wearing a smart suit and glasses, was equally bullish about his chances. – ‘My time’ – “It’s great to be here, we’ve had a great build-up and a great camp. I can’t wait to put on a great display on March 31,” he said. “I’m taking those belts back to New Zealand. “Joshua is a great champion and we respect him and what he’s achieved. We love challenges. “It’s my time, I’m young, sharp and am determined to win. I’m here to be part of history, doing it for my team, family and country. “I’m going to beat AJ, I haven’t decided how I will win. These belts are mine.” His trainer, Kevin Barry, said he was delighted to be working with a fully-fit boxer following Parker’s history of elbow trouble. “This has been the most enjoyable time we have spent together for the last eight years,” Barry said. “I think he has the best skill, the fastest hands of all the heavyweights and I will see if I have been dreaming or am proved right on Saturday night.” But Rob McCracken, Joshua’s trainer, countered by saying: “Being relaxed and comfortable preparing for fights like this doesn’t do anything for what happens when you are in there facing Joshua. “You won’t know what’s happening when you get hit by Anthony Joshua.”

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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.

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Williams off to winning start in WTA return

Serena Williams shook off the rust from a 15-month layoff due to pregnancy to win her opening match at the WTA Indian Wells event with a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Zarina Diyas.
The unseeded Williams was the top-ranked player in the world when she began her long layoff following her victory at the 2017 Australian Open, where she was already expecting daughter Alexis Olympia who was born in September.
After a couple of exhibitions and a Fed Cup doubles match, Williams said Thursday she is ready to hit with the big guns on the Tour again.
“I am not going to be there today or next week but I will get there and I do have my goals,” Williams said.
“At some point I need to jump and fly. It takes time to get back.”
Williams entered the court Thursday night to a loud ovation, with many in the half full stadium standing and applauding as she came out of the tunnel for just her third appearance in Indian Wells in the last 17 years.
After that it was a matter of gradually asserting herself by taking control of the rallies, and she got the first break of serve in the 11th game of the first set and secured the set in the next game on her third set point.
Her daughter was born on September 1 but Williams says throughout the postnatal period she tried to maintain a level of fitness.
Sitting in Williams’ box were her husband and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, mother Oracene, sisters Lyndrea and Isha, her agent, and her coach Patrick Mouratoglou. Older sister Venus watched from a seat in an upper-level box.
The 36-year-old American is the star attraction in Indian Wells, but behind her popularity this year was the mystery surrounding her match fitness and ball-striking ability.
The 23-time Grand Slam winner answered some of those questions Thursday by blasting four aces and winning 63 percent of her first-serve points.
“From zero to Serena I am with the S,” she said. “I have got a ways to go.
“It is a journey for me and I am just going to go for it.
“I wanted to stay fit and just be ready. I wasn’t ready to retire yet even though it would have been a great way to retire.”
– Venus clash ahead? –
Williams set up a second round match with 29th seeded Kiki Bertens. A win over Bertens could see her face Venus in the third round.
Venus, who is seeded eighth, enjoyed a first round bye and will play Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in her opening match.
Serena boycotted Indian Wells for 14 years after she was booed in the 2001 final. She returned in 2015 but had to pull out before her semi-final against Simona Halep with a knee problem.
In 2016, she lost in the final to Victoria Azarenka, 6-4, 6-4.
The birth of Williams’s daughter was followed by life-threatening complications that scuppered her plans to defend her title in Melbourne.
Williams says she now lives in fear of blood clots, a condition that surfaced during a harrowing postnatal ordeal in September. In an op-ed piece she wrote for CNN last month, the tennis legend lifted the lid on her near-death experience while giving birth after getting blood clots in her lungs.
“I think about the moment in the hospital and not even realizing how serious it was until later to be able to come through that. Going through that I know I am able to be strong win or lose,” she said.
Indian Wells features a star-studded women’s field in a tournament that looks wide open for the taking by any of the top 10 seeds, led by world number one Halep.
Like Williams, Azarenka ended a long layoff from a pregnancy by competing in the final match of the Indian Wells night session Thursday.
Azarenka, who needed a wildcard to get into the draw, cruised past Britain’s Heather Watson 6-4, 6-2.

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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.

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Wozniacki clinches title, top rank

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark outlasted Simona Halep 7/6 (2); 3/6; 6/4 to win her first Grand Slam title. It was a double for the second seed, who replaces the Romanian as the number one female player in the world. It was the fulfillment of the expectations and talent that had seen her in two previous Grand Slam finals, the same for her opponent.

The two ladies had many similarities coming into the finals. Both had lost in two Grand Slam finals. The older and second seeded Wozniacki lost to Kim Clijsters in New York 2009 and to Serena Williams in Melbourne in 2014. The top seeded Halep was defeated in Paris Maria Sharapova in 2014 and Jelena Ostapenko in 2017.

This year, in Melbourne, Halep faced three match points against American Lauren Davis in the third round and two in the semi-final match with Angelique Kerber. Wozniacki saved two match points when Jana Fett was leading 5-1 in the final set of their second round match. The final in Melbourne was their seventh career match-up, and Caroline now has a five to two record.

Everything was at stake and symbolism outweighed the scores. The first set could have gone either way and Halep would have won it had she converted the many opportunities to break Caroline’s service. In the entire match, Halep won five out of 12 break points while her Wozniacki took the game five times in 14 opportunities. In the ensuing tie-breaker, Halep lost with a wide margin of seven points to two. She did better in the second set and leveled the match one set apiece.

The battle came down to the final set. With each lady holding tight her service games, the eighth game was crucial. Wozniacki shot in front 15-0 but Simona hammered a forehand to level. Caroline reached game point when a Halep forehand sailed long but a double fault reduced the point tally. On the next point, Simona made an unforced backhand error and the Dane was up 5-4 and did not have to hit a serve any more. Needing to hold to stay in the match, Simona started off losing the first point but leveled with a forehand winner and led 30-15.

Next, she made a double fault for 30-all. A forehand winner by Caroline led to match point. Halep served to her opponent’s backhand side of Wozniacki who returned the ball down the line. Halep hit a backhand down the line and her opponent returned crosscourt. Halep hit crosscourt twice to her opponent who replied likewise. Then Halep sent the ball down the line to her opponent’s backhand. When Caroline hit the next shot crosscourt, it was the last ball she would play, as her opponent netted an attempted crosscourt shot.

The encounter was very close. Halep delivered six aces to two by Wozniacki who had six double faults to her opponent’s one. Halep made 40 outright winning shots while Wozniacki hit 25. At the finish line, the winner tallied 110 points to her opponent’s 108. With each player winning a total 16 games, the title could have gone either way.

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Pain is temporary and quit is forever- Lance Edward Armstrong

Pain is temporary. It may last a minute or an hour, or a day or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If i quit, howeverit lasts forever.
Lance Edward Armstrong(born 18 September,1971) is an Ameerican former professional road racing cyclist.
Armstrong had been declared winner of the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times between 1999 to 2005, before being disqualified from each of those races and banned from cycling for life for doping offenses by the United State Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in 2012. He is the founder of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Later name Livesstrong Foundation, for providing support for cancer patients.

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Joshua laughs off Parker’s drug taunts

Britain’s Anthony Joshua dismissed a claim by New Zealand’s Joseph Parker he is the “king of steroids” ahead of their world heavyweight title unification bout.
The two boxers will meet in Cardiff on March 31, with Joshua, a London 2012 Olympic gold medallist, looking to add Parker’s World Boxing Organisation title to the World Boxing Association, International Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organisation belts he already holds.

Whoever wins at the 74,500-capacity Principality Stadium, best known for staging Wales rugby union internationals, will be eyeing a bout with World Boxing Council heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.


After his fight with Joshua was confirmed on Sunday, Parker gave an interview to New Zealand’s Radio Sport in which he said: “They call me the king of pies, but I call him the king of steroids.”

But Joshua, speaking to newswire reporters at London’s Dorchester Hotel on Tuesday, said the “pies” jibe was the work of British television chat show host Graham Norton and dismissed Parker’s allegations of drug use.

“I’ve heard so much in boxing trash talk that nothing’s new anymore,” Joshua said.

“Can I sue him?” he asked to laughter from reporters.

“I know my records are clean,” insisted the 28-year-old Englishman. “That’s why I don’t bite at it.

“It is what it is. If I’m not clean, you’ll find out this fight. If I haven’t been clean for all my other fights, you’ll see me struggle against Parker because anything I have been taking will be out of my system. You’ll find out this fight whether I am the super-human or I’ve got something pushes on this super-human power he says I have.

“Trash talk has a place in boxing if it’s natural but you shouldn’t use it as a tool to sell the fight. I would never put on an act to sell a fight.”

Both boxers will be putting their unbeaten professional records as well as their titles on the line.

Parker’s camp suggested Joshua has a weak chin, citing as evidence how he was knocked down by Wladimir Klitschko last year, before getting off the canvas to be crowned world champion.

– ‘Walk with faith’ –
But Joshua told a broadcast news conference on Tuesday: “It will take more than a human to stop me getting where I’m destined to be.

“That’s why I learned to not walk with sight, I walk with faith in this journey so in terms of you, using it as a PR stunt and the rumours you have heard, they are fake news,” he added.

“Three times I’ve been hurt or stopped. What I have learnt from those adversities and storms, it will take more than any human to stop me from this journey.”

Joshua has won all 20 of his professional bouts inside the distance, while Parker is unbeaten in a 24-fight career.

“It’s an exciting time to be a heavyweight,” said Parker, sitting alongside Joshua in the news conference on Tuesday. “This is going to be the hardest camp and most work as I have a big challenge in front of me in Joshua.

“I’ve watched him for a long time. I know his strengths, he know mine. I know his weaknesses and he thinks he knows my weaknesses.

“I can’t wait to have this fight happen on March 31. I can’t wait to put on a great performance, hopefully I will catch him on the chin and knock him out.”

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Joshua, Parker Boast As Unification Bout Is Confirmed For March

Undefeated world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, will face New Zealand’s Joseph Parker in a unification clash in Cardiff on March 31, the Nigerian-born Briton announced in a video on his Twitter account on Sunday.

Joshua, who holds the World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) belts will fight Parker, World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion, at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales following weeks of intense negotiations.

In his last fight inside the Principality Stadium in October, Joshua claimed a 10th-round stoppage victory over Cameroonian-born French boxer Carlos Takam.

Joshua, 28, says he hopes to take another step towards becoming the undisputed world heavyweight champion.

“I like to fight. It’s like one step closer to adding a strap to my legacy. It’s my main objective, and it’s showing I’m never shy of a competition,” said Joshua, who is a Sky Ambassador.

“He’s (Parker) a respectable competitor, he is the WBO heavyweight champion of the world, so it’s like one step closer to adding a strap to my legacy.

“That’s what makes it exciting.”

Parker, 26, who is also undefeated, vowed to rip away Joshua’s two world titles by racking up his 25th straight victory.

“Anthony Joshua is in for a huge shock,” Parker said. “A couple of months ago I heard him say ‘why should I be worried about this little kid from New Zealand’?

“Well, now he’s about to find out. The world is about to find out whether AJ can really take a punch. My entire existence is now devoted to proving what the boxing world already knows.”

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn says it is going to be a classic.

“I’m delighted to get this fight made – it’s been a long time coming,” Hearn. “Champions should fight champions and AJ continues to step up to the challenges.

“It’s the first time in history that two reigning heavyweight world champions have met in Britain. It’s a classic match-up between two young, fast, undefeated belt holders and it’s going to be an explosive fight.

“This is another huge unification fight for Anthony as he continues to make history in the quest to become undisputed world heavyweight champion.”

Parker’s promoter David Higgins predicted that his fighter will ruin the perfect record of Joshua.
“Joseph Parker is the absolute epitome of the Kiwi sporting battler,” said Higgins. “It has been said that he is punching above his weight, but he didn’t become WBO heavyweight champion by being lucky.

“He’s never been stopped, never even been wobbled in the ring. He’s consistently fought fighters in the world’s top 10 and he’s beaten them all easily. It certainly won’t be a shock to me when he beats Anthony Joshua and takes his titles back home to New Zealand.”

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NBBF invites 20 players for Commonwealth Games preparation

Twenty players have been invited by the Nigeria Basketball Federation for the first phase of camping ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

In a memo signed by the Secretary General of the NBBF, Chimezie Asiegbu and sent to the respective clubs, the camping exercise which will be supervised by the duo of D’Tigers assistant coaches, Abdulrahman Mohammed of Gombe Bulls and Aderemi Adewunmi of Kwara Falcons will open in Lagos on the 5th of January, 2017.

The 20-man list is dominated by 7 players from Kano Pillars, while Gombe Bulls who recently made their continental debut have 4 players in the provisional list.

Mark Mentors of Abuja have 2 players while ASPAC basketball club of Benin, Rivers Hoopers, Bauchi Nets, Kwara Falcons, Niger Potters and Civil Defenders of Abuja all have 1 player each on the list.

Also on the list is Bulls inspirational captain, Yakubu Abdulwahab, Mark Mentors reliable leader, Usman Musa and Kano Pillars 3points legend, Usman Abubakar.

A member of the 2017 Afrobasket silver winning team and Most Valuable Player of the FIBA Africa Zone 3 club championship elimination, Abdul Yahaya was expectedly recalled to the fold alongside Dike Azouma who powered the D’Tigers to their first 3×3 continental trophy in 2017.

Pillars Captain, Ogenyi Mathew will also have a chance to fight for national team jersey alongside fast rising Okpe Ocheibi Victor who was named as part of the starting 5 during the club championship elimination.

The D’Tigers will be participating in the XXI commonwealth Games, 2018 Gold Coast, in Queensland, Australia between 4 and 15 April, 2018.

Players and Officials are expected to report to camp with their training kits and travelling documents as traveling arrangements and registration of players are expected to commence immediately.

Full list of invited players

1. YAKUBU ABDULWAHAB – GOMBE BULLS

2. USMAN MUSA MOHAMMED – MARK MENTORS

3. USMAN ABUBAKAR – KANO PILLARS

4. SALIU PRECIOUS OSIGBODI – ASPAC

5. OKPE OCHEIBI VICTOR – MARK MENTORS

6. OKEKE JAMIL – GOMBE BULLS

7. OGENYI MATHEW – KANO PILLARS

8. KOKO VICTOR ANTHONY – RIVER HOOPERS

9. ISTIFANUS YAKUBU SYLVANUS – GOMBE BULLS

10. DUNG ELI ABRAHAM – KANO PILLARS

11. DIKE AZUOMA – KANO PILLARS

12. AKITA AKPATA – BAUCHI NETS

13. ADEMOLA DELE DANIEL – KANO PILLARS

14. ABDUL YAHAYA – KANO PILLARS

15. DENNIS IBIKORO – UNATTACHED

16. GODWIN DAVID – KWARA FALCON

17. IBE ABUCHI AGU – GOMBE BULLS

18. GIDEON GEORGE – NIGER POTTERS

19. SUBEL LUCKY – KANO PILLARS

20. JOEL EJIGBA – DEFENDERS

OFFICIALS

1. ABDULRAHMANMOHAMMED – COACH

2. ADEWUMI ADEREMI – COACH

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Five Memorable Moments In Nigerian Sports In 2017

With 2017 winding down, Completesportsnigeria.com’s JAMES AGBEREBI digs up some memorable sporting moments for Nigeria in the eventful outgoing year…

SUPER EAGLES QUALIFICATION FOR 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP

After failing to qualify for back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations, the Super Eagles eventually qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

When the draw for the qualifiers was made, there were huge doubts over the possibility of the Eagles picking the sole ticket ahead of established teams like current African champions Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia.

But against all the odds, the Eagles qualified for their sixth World Cup with a game to spare, beating Cameroon 4-0 in Uyo in September and Zambia 1-0 in October to seal the ticket.

HOME-BASED SUPER EAGLES’ QUALIFICATION FOR 2018 CHAN

Prior to the Super Eagles’ qualification for the 2018 World Cup, the home-based Eagles secured their ticket for next year’s Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) in Morocco.

The home-based Eagles were drawn against Benin Republic in the play-off round from the West B zone.

In the first leg played in Cotonou, Benin Republic won 1-0 thanks to an 89th minute penalty by Mama Seibou.

But in the return leg at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano, a goal in each half by Rabiu Ali and Kingsley Eduwo, sealed a third CHAN appearance for the home-based Eagles.

ODUNAYO ADEKUOROYE WINS SILVER AT 2017 WORLD WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP

Nigerian wrestler Odunayo Adekuoroye made history as she became the first ever female Nigerian wrestler to win a silver medal at the World Wrestling Championship.

Adekuoroye, 24, achieved the feat at the 2017 World Wrestling Championship in Paris, France in August.

After defeating Iryna Kurachkina from Belarus 10-0 in the semi-finals, Adekuoroye lost to 18-year-old Haruna Okuno from Japan 5-4 in the 55kg final match.

At the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, Adekuoroye won gold for Team Nigeria.

D’TIGRESS EMERGED WINNERS OF THE 2017 FIBA WOMEN’S AFROBASKET

Nigeria women’s basketball team D’Tigress were crowned African champions at the 2017 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship in Bamako, Mali.

The coach Sam Vincent-led side defeated Senegal 65-48 points in the final to claim their third continental title after winning it in 2003 and 2005.

Following their triumph at the 2017 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket Championship, D’Tigress secured one of the two qualifying tickets for the 2018 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Spain.

NIGERIA’S HISTORIC QUALIFICATION FOR THE 2018 WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES

Nigeria will make its debut at the Winter Olympics holding in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in February 2018, thanks to trio of Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga who qualified for the bobsled event in 2017.

Bobsled, also known as Bobsleigh, is a winter sport in which teams of two or four teammates make timed runs down narrow, twisting, banked, iced tracks in a gravity-powered sled. The timed runs are combined to calculate the final score.

Driver Adigun, brakemen Onwumere and Omeoga qualified for the event over five races held in Utah, Whistler and Calgary in Canada, becoming the first African team, men or women, to qualify in the Bobsled category.

The three Nigerian women team was only formed in 2016. Adigun competed for Team Nigeria in the women’s 100 metre hurdles at the London 2012 summer Olympics.

Onwumere claimed gold alongside Blessing Okagbare, Lawretta Ozoh and Cecilia Francis in the 4 x 100 metres relay at the 2015 All-Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo. She also represented Nigeria at the 2015 IAAF World Relays in Nassau, Bahamas.

Omeoga was a former collegiate Track and Field athlete for the University of Minnesota.

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Mayweather admits to carrying McGregor, says De La Hoya must be using cocaine again

While vacationing in China, Floyd Mayweather took some time to publicly respond to Oscar De La Hoya calling out Conor McGregor for a boxing match while admitting to carrying McGregor for 10 rounds this past August in order to give fans their money’s worth.

“Wasn’t Oscar De La Hoya the same one that was talking about me fighting Conor McGregor? And he was trying to protest and stop the fight?! Now he trying to fight Conor McGregor! Is he a hypocrite or is he back on coke again?

“Man, that boy still snorting them lines!

“Everybody tried to protest the Mayweather-McGregor fight, right? But I’ma tell ya’ll the truth — you know I carried McGregor. You know I made it look good for ya’ll.”

The fact that Mayweather is openly admitting to carrying McGregor won’t be much of a revelation for most, as anyone who saw the fight could see Floyd didn’t fight in his usual style. Not only that, but the future Hall of Famer only bothered to throw a total of 6 punches in the opening round, 10 in the second, and 12 in the third according to CompuBox count. And even for someone as deliberate and defensive as Mayweather, that’s a historically paltry work rate.

Anyway, as far as Oscar De La Hoya is concerned, I won’t comment on whether or not he’s using again — because I honestly don’t know, and would hope not — but it’s been clear for a while now that his hypocrisy knows no bounds.

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Maria Sharapova wins first title since doping ban

Five-time Grand Slam winner, Maria Sharapova, weathered a strong challenge from teenager Aryna Sabalenka to win her first title since her 15-month doping ban at the Tianjin Open on Sunday.

The former world number one, who returned to action in April, came from behind in both sets and needed four match points in the tie-breaker before beating the 19-year-old 7-5, 7-6 (10/8).

Sharapova, 30, was contesting the seventh tournament of what has been an injury-plagued and controversial comeback since testing positive for the banned substance meldonium in early 2016.

Sharapova, whose ranking has dropped to 86, has been playing on wildcards this season. Her return has proved divisive, with some rivals insisting she shouldn’t be back on tour at all.

She now heads to next week’s Kremlin Cup in Moscow for the first time since 2007, after also being given a wildcard to play in what is her home tournament.

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Serena Williams shares hopes for new baby in inspiring letter to her mum - and slams her critics at the same time

Serena Williams has launched a stinging assault on those who've criticised or doubted her while outlining her hopes for the future of her new baby in a touching letter to her mother.

Arguably the greatest tennis player of all time, Williams and fiance Alexis Ohanian welcomed daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr on September 1.

She has now taken to Reddit, the social media site founded by Ohanian, to give thanks to her mum, Oracene Price, hail her offspring and lay into those who've crossed her.

"I was looking at my daughter (OMG, yes, I have a daughter) and she has my arms and legs! My exact same strong, muscular, powerful, sensational arms and body," she says on Reddit after calling Oracene "one of the strongest women I know".

Serena with mother Oracene and sister Venus (Image: Reuters)

"I don't know how I would react if she has to go through what I've gone through since I was a 15 year old and even to this day,"

"I've been called man because I appeared outwardly strong.

"It has been said that that I use drugs (No, I have always had far too much integrity to behave dishonestly in order to gain an advantage).

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Letter to my mom.https://www.reddit.com/user/serenawilliams/comments/714c1b/letter_to_my_mom/?st=J7RXEDXB&sh=5c384abb …

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"It has been said I don't belong in Women's sports - that I belong in men's - because I look stronger than many other women do. (No, I just work hard and I was born with this badass body and proud of it).

"But mom, I'm not sure how you did not go off on every single reporter, person, announcer and quite frankly, hater, who was too ignorant to understand the power of a black woman."

Williams posted soon after the birth of Alexis: "Born: September 1, 2017. Weight: 6lb 14oz. Grand slam titles: 1."

Serena's classy birth announcement starts her daughter's grand slam tally (Image: Splash News)

"Smart and strong" reads her daughter's outfit - just as Serena wants her to be (Image: olympiaohanian/Instagram)

She had famously won her 23rd Grand Slam at the Australian Open while pregnant.

And she looks forward to setting the same example for her daughter.

"I am proud we were able to show them what some women look like," she says.

"We don't all look the same. We are curvy, strong, muscular, tall, small, just to name a few, and all the same: we are women and proud!"

Serena and her fiance announced the pregnancy back in April on her Snapchat, with a snap of the nine-time Wimbledon champion showing off her bump in a swimsuit, alongside the caption: "20 weeks."

(Image: serenawilliams/Instagram)

And she has shared her journey to motherhood with fans.

She continues to her mother: "You are so classy, I only wish I could take your lead. I am trying, though, and God is not done with me yet. I have a LONG way to go, but thank you.

"Thank you for being the role model I needed to endure all the hardships that I now regard as a challenges--ones that I enjoy. I hope to teach my baby Alexis Olympia the same, and have the same fortitude you have had.

"Promise me, Mom, that you will continue to help. I'm not sure if I am as meek and strong as you are yet. I hope to get there one day. I love you dearly."

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Hamilton wins crucial, chaotic Singapore GP

Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates on the podium after winning the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix in Singapore on September 17, 2017. MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP

Lewis Hamilton won a chaotic and rain-hit Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday to seize control of the Formula One world championship as his title rival Sebastian Vettel crashed out on the first lap.

Ferrari’s Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen all went out just after the start of the first wet race in Singapore, which saw three safety cars and finished with only 12 drivers.

It all played perfectly into the hands of Mercedes driver Hamilton, who went from fifth on the grid to first and held off Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo to clinch his third win in a row.

With his 60th race victory and seventh this season, Hamilton — who said he needed a “miracle” after struggling in qualifying — stands 28 points ahead of Vettel with six grands prix left this year.

“Guys what can I say — what a turnaround today! Fantastic job with the team strategy,” Hamilton said over the radio, before leaping out of his car and hugging his engineers.

“God blessed me today, for sure,” he said later, dripping with champagne. “I capitalised on the incident — who would have known that would happen? “It was really unfortunate for the Ferraris but a great result for the (Mercedes) team.”

Ricciardo finished second for the third straight occasion in Singapore, while Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas was third and Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz finished a career-best fourth.

Sergio Perez was fifth and Jolyon Palmer, still digesting the news that he has been replaced by Sainz at Renault next season, placed sixth — also his best result in F1.

‘Another safety car?’ 
Some drivers had expressed concerns about visibility in the wet under floodlights, but the night race had hardly started when it lost three of the first four cars on the grid.

Raikkonen ploughed into Red Bull’s Verstappen on the first corner, taking both cars out of the race and also heavily shunting Fernando Alonso’s McLaren.

Pole-sitter Vettel, who had been looking to reclaim the world championship lead from Hamilton, spun further ahead, lost his front wing and ended up reversing down the track, before also retiring.

“Obviously it sucks being on the wrong side of the track now, but that’s what it is,” Vettel shrugged after returning to the paddock. But Hamilton dodged the pile-up and he progressed from fifth on the grid to first, ahead of Ricciardo, as the race finally restarted after a safety car.

Alonso lasted just a few laps before the damage sustained at the first corner forced him to retire, and Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat became the fifth man out when he ploughed nose-first into a barrier — prompting a second safety car.

Mercedes declined to pit Hamilton under the safety car but after the restart he reeled off a string of fastest laps on the slowly drying track, extending his lead over Ricciardo.

Ricciardo and then Hamilton pitted for ultra-soft tyres after laps 28 and 29 and the Briton emerged 8.7 seconds ahead with 50 minutes left on an increasingly quick track.

Hamilton had a healthy advantage of 9.6 seconds when Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson spun and stopped on Anderson Bridge, bringing out a third safety car and wiping out the Briton’s lead.

“Why another safety car?” Hamilton grumbled over the team radio.

But Hamilton shot off after the restart to maintain the gap from Ricciardo and as he finally took the chequered flag, the grandstand came to its feet and fireworks lit up the night sky.

Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen both retired late in the race to bring the total number of casualties to eight. An investigation by race stewards found nobody was to blame for the crash on the first corner, meaning no punishments were handed out.

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