Established 1961 25 Sports Monday, June 11, 2018 Former champion Fury wins on comeback

Seferi, was nearly five stones lighter and seven inches smaller

MANCHESTER: Former world heavyweight champion since winning the (WBA), declared himself completely happy with his International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing four-round comeback win on Saturday night, despite a Organisation (WBO) titles from Ukraine’s Wladimir lack of action. Fury only got going in the fourth round Klitschko on points in November 2015. But Fury’s reign and his brief exhibition of power convinced Sefer Seferi’s was brief with rematches twice cancelled against corner to pull out the Switzerland-based Albanian before Klitschko before he admitted to problems with depres- the start of the fifth round. sion, drink and drugs. Fury then piled on the pounds-he Fury, 29, did not take his task totally seriously early on claimed to have lost eight stones in preparation for and was told off by referee Phil Edwards for playing to Seferi-and served a backdated drugs ban for testing pos- the crowd, but the English boxer was pleased it was not a itive for a banned steroid in February 2015. short fight after two years and seven months out of Fury’s titles are now in the hands of English rival action. “He didn’t come to fight, he came to run around Anthony Joshua, but promoter Frank Warren said fights the ring,” Fury told a press against Joshua and Deontay conference. Wilder, the World Boxing “The opponent was small Council (WBC) champion and light. But he took me a from American, are a way off few rounds, which I was hap- yet. Joshua and Wilder are in py with. “I wouldn’t change a He didn’t come talks to face each other in thing, and we move on to the to fight, he came early 2019, while Warren next one. I will go back home plans on keeping Fury active and have pizza and then get to run around until a world title shot hap- back on it tomorrow. “I could pens, with his next bout have knocked him out in the the ring scheduled to be at Belfast’s first round but what good Windsor Park, Northern would that have done me? I Ireland on August 18. got four rounds in and TV “Tyson will step up each exposure. time,” Warren said at a press conference. “I’ve been real- “He took a couple of hard punches and didn’t want to istic from the beginning that we’re not going to put him in know. I learned two and a half years is a long time to be with big names early on. He needs to get the ring rust off. out. I’ll take my career very seriously this time and enjoy We picked Seferi because he had gone ten rounds with every moment.” Manuel Charr. “The objective is to get him ready to fight Seferi, who was nearly five stones lighter and seven for the world title as soon as possible. “I think Anthony inches smaller, did show some ambition early on but Joshua is fighting in September so he Fury’s height and movement ensured there was never will not fight until next year now and I think Wilder has MANCHESTER: Britain’s Tyson Fury (L) exchanges blows with Albania’s Sefer Seferi during their heavy- going to be an upset at Manchester Arena. got a mandatory. In the meantime we have to get Tyson weight contest at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, northern England on Saturday. — AFP It was always comfortable for Fury in his first fight more competitive fights.” — AFP

Symphony Style Hotel scores with football legends from Brazil and Argentina Justify dominates Belmont to become 13th Triple Crown winner

NEW YORK: Justify became the Justify’s Triple Crown feat came 45 13th horse in history to win US rac- years to the day after another physi- ing’s coveted Triple Crown with an cally imposing chestnut, Secretariat, electrifying triumph in the 150th broke from the first post and won the Belmont Stakes on Saturday. In adding Belmont by a stunning 31 lengths to the Belmont to his Kentucky Derby complete the Triple Crown. and Preakness Stakes victories, the “He’s just brilliant,” said Smith, who unbeaten Justify made Bob Baffert just at 52 became the oldest jockey to win the second trainer to saddle two Triple the Triple Crown. “Did you see him in Crown winners. the gate? He was standing so still. Drawn in the unfavorable first post, “I actually thought maybe he’s not Justify burst from the gate under jock- going to break today. I mean, he left Cafu & Maged Hanna Karim Romario Milito Maged ey Mike Smith and never trailed in the like he was going 440 yards in 1 1/2 mile race dubbed the “Test of the Ruidoso, New Mexico!” Justify Champion”. I can’t describe the emo- improved to 6-0 in a racing career tion that’s going through my body that only began on February 18. right now,” Smith said as he made for The only other unbeaten Triple the winner’s circle. “This horse ran a Crown winner was Seattle Slew in tremendous race. He’s so gifted. He’s 1977. Seattle Slew’s Triple Crown-four sent from heaven.” years after that of Secretariat, was Despite drawing the rail, Justify swiftly followed by Affirmed’s in 1978. went off as a 4-5 favorite and more But it would be 37 years before the than lived up to his billing. Baffert-trained American Pharoah Gronkowski, a 24-1 shot trained by would become the 12th Triple Crown Chad Brown and part-owned by New winner in 2015. England Patriots star Rob Gronkowski, As the drought dragged on, Baffert came from well back to finish second had reason to know how hard it was to under jockey Jose Ortiz. achieve the feat. Three times-in 1997, Hofburg, trained by Bill Mott and 1998 and 2002 — he brought horses ridden by Irad Ortiz-and reckoned by to the Belmont that had won both the Yamen Veron The legend Veron with Symphony Style Hotel Managers. many as a contender to thwart Justify’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness, only Triple Crown bid-was third in the field to see them falter. Now he has joined of 10. Justify, unraced as a two-year- Jim Fitzsimmons, who conditioned KUWAIT: Football fever continues to Diego Milito. guests and staff during their stay in Kuwait. old, signalled his greatness with a Gallant Fox in 1930 and Omaha in grip fans around the globe ahead of the Cafu, won the Mondial twice (1994, Football fans will be able to watch all the Kentucky Derby victory on a rain- 1935, as the only trainers to saddle two upcoming Mondial 2018 in Russia, and 2002) with Brazil during a trophy-laden action from the Mondial 2018 in Symphony soaked Churchill Downs track in May. Triple Crown winners. “It’s just amaz- Symphony Style Hotel Kuwait, the Jewel playing career spanning more 16 years, and Style Hotel’s pool tent and the recently- He was the first horse since 1882 to ing,” said Baffert, his voice hitching. of Kuwait City, recently got in on the Milito, who sealed UEFA Champions opened Choco Garden, a fully air-condi- win the Kentucky Derby without hav- “It’s very emotional for me.” action, scoring a visit from two footballing League glory and the Italian Serie A league tioned indoor garden that provides the per- ing raced as a two-year-old. A sore Baffert admitted that the sweet- legends - Mondial - winning former Brazil title with Inter Milan during his career, fect setting and vibrant ambiance to catch a heel a day after that victory raised natured American Pharoah will defender Cafu and ex-Argentina forward spent time with Symphony Style Hotel game and chat with friends. brief concerns, but two weeks later “always be my first love” but said Justify dug deep at fog-shrouded Justify richly deserved his star’s status. Pimlico to claim the 1 3/16-mile “I wanted to see that horse’s name up July 2016, but regained it back in January 2017. Manny Pacquiao in July of last year in Preakness. there,” Baffert said. “We knew he was Santa Cruz wins Santa Cruz said he wasn’t going to be Brisbane. Horn defended the belt with a tech- It was a narrow victory, and some brilliant from day one. slowed down by the cut over his eye. “A cut is nical knockout of Gary Corcoran in December, feared the 1 1/2-mile Belmont would “He was showing me the same signs a cut. It is just blood. It wasn’t bothering my but he was dominated by Crawford all the way be a stretch too far for the big chest- (as American Pharoah,” Baffert said. rematch to hold eyes. It just gives me more motivation,” he said. at the Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. nut colt. Instead, he powered to the “He was showing me that brilliance-he Santa Cruz also said that he wants his next Crawford, who improved to 33-0 with 24 front of the field on the sweeping could have won every race on the onto WBA title fight to be against Gary Russell for the WBC knockouts, battered Horn for eight rounds, Belmont track called “Big Sandy” and undercard today. He’s just that kind of title. knocking him down in the ninth with a flurry of ran like a machine to the wire. horse.” — AFP : Mexican boxer Leo Santa Mares, also of Mexico, drops to 31-3-1 (15 blows. Horn beat the count, but Crawford Cruz retained his WBA belt by earning a unan- KOs) as he pushed for a third fight between unleashed another barrage and referee Robert imous decision victory over on the two. “I am sorry I came out short,” said Byrd called a halt at 2:33 of the round. Saturday in a rematch of a 2015 featherweight Mares. “It is always a problem trying to get With the win Crawford claimed a world title title fight. Santa Cruz improved to 34-1-1 with inside on him. I fought my heart out but at the in a third weight division. He defeated Julius 19 career knockouts by winning on all three end of the day I did my best. “Let’s do a third Indongo last August to become the undisputed judges scorecards, 115-113, 116-112, 117-111 at fight.” On the undercard, WBC super welter- super world champion. the arena. weight champ successfully A former WBO lightweight world champ, “I did what I had to do to win the fight,” defended his belt for the third time, by flooring Crawford made the move up to in Santa Cruz said. “Mares is a tough fighter. Austin Trout twice en route to a 12-round impressive fashion. He won every round and Thank God I got the victory.” Santa Cruz won majority decision. Charlo improved to 31-0 was never really hurt by Horn, who fell to 18-1 despite suffering a cut over his left eye which overall, while Trout fell to 31-5. with one draw and 12 knockouts. was the result of a head butt from Mares in the Earler, unbeaten Terence Crawford pun- A vocal Australian contingent among the eighth round. The cut bled for the remainder of ished Jeff Horn en route to a ninth-round tech- crowd of 8,112 lustily backed Horn, but he was the fight but didn’t appear to bother Santa nical knockout on Saturday to seize the in trouble from the start as Crawford caught Cruz much. Australian’s World Boxing Organization wel- him with a hard left just seconds in. Crawford, The pair fought once before on August 29, terweight world title. America’s Crawford, the using his speed and his ability to switch 2015 as Santa Cruz also won that one but by a former undisputed super lightweight world stances to good effect, landed almost at will, ELMONT: Jockey Mike Smith celebrates atop of Justify #1 during the 150th running majority decision. After that victory, Santa title holder, outclassed the Aussie who was Horn absorbing the punishment without find- of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on Saturday in New York. — AFP Cruz actually lost the title to in defending the title he won in a huge upset of ing a way to answer. — AFP