Established 1961 13 Sports Thursday, May 3, 2018 Thai ‘dwarf giant’ Wanheng equals Floyd Mayweather’s 50-0 record

‘I’m happy that I can make the same record as Mayweather’

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: Thai boxer Wanheng Boxing analysts have taken note of his achievement Menayothin clinched his 50th straight victory yester- but point out that Wanheng has dominated undistin- day, stopping a Panamanian challenger to hold onto his guished rivals compared with Mayweather, who took WBC minimumweight belt and tie the undefeated out greats including Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De record of boxing great Floyd Mayweather Jr. La Hoya. The 32-year-old Thai nicknamed the “dwarf giant” Wanheng’s rivals have been a mixed bag-one last reached the milestone in the fifth round as Leroy year had 44 losses, while another in 2014 had 24. In Estrada failed to recover from a powerful upper cut. The December, he tied ’s 49-0 tally with a Panamanian was the busier of the two fighters in the win over Japanese contender . opening rounds, leaving a cut above Wanheng’s left eye. Still, president Mauricio But the veteran Thai was unruffled, knocking down Sulaiman, who attended Wednesday’s bout, applauded Estrada twice in round the “tremendous fight” and three with withering right record-equalling feat. hands and again in the “The world is going to fourth, before the stoppage get to know him much bet- in the fifth. Wanheng’s ter, and great opportunities quest to equal “Money” Wanheng’s will open for him,” he told Mayweather has stirred AFP. That may bring a boon intrigue between the rivals have been to Wanheng, who has unheralded, soft-spoken a mixed bag fought since he was 12 and Thai and the brash, vastly despite his prowess is sig- more wealthy American. nificantly less wealthy than “I’m happy that I can Mayweather, who briefly make the same record as emerged from retirement him (Mayweather),” the last year to fight MMA star champion said ringside after the fight. Asked about his Conor McGregor for a $100-million purse. next move, he said he was not yet thinking about a 51st Given the lack of finances, fighters in often bout. But one more win would bring Wanheng level compete under the label of their gym-Menayothin is with Mexican flyweight Ricardo Lopez, who retired Wanheng’s gym. The Thai boxer’s legal name with 51 wins, one draw and no losses. The bout was is Chayaphon Moonsri. hosted in a parking lot, under an awning in the blister- But he is better known by the nickname “dwarf : World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman (R) wraps the WBC champi- ing late afternoon heat of the northeastern city of giant”-on account of punching power that belies his onship belt to undefeated Thai boxer Wanheng Menayothin (C) after defeating Panamanian challenger Nakhon Ratchasima, far from the glitz-and air condi- size-and “Five-Star Grilled Chicken” because of a Leroy Estrada to win his 50th straight victory yesterday in Nakhon Ratchasima. — AFP tioning-of Mayweather’s favoured Las Vegas. sponsorship deal with a Thai food company. — AFP

Ovechkin lifts Capitals over Hollow by a strong field that also Tiger will use features Rory McIlroy, Justin Pittsburgh Thomas and Masters champion new irons at Patrick Reed. LOS ANGELES: Alex Ovechkin scored with McIlroy and Thomas have fond 1:07 left in the third period Tuesday, giving the memories of Quail Hollow. visiting a 4-3 victory over Wells Fargo McIlroy recorded his first PGA the in Game 3 of an Eastern Tour win there in 2010, while Thomas more recently made his Conference semifinal series. The Capitals NORTH CAROLINA: Tiger major breakthrough at the PGA grabbed a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven set. Woods will use a new set of irons Championship. The course set-up Game 4 will be played Thursday night in at this week’s Wells Fargo this week will be more forgiving Pittsburgh before the series shifts back to Championship in North Carolina, than it was when Thomas won last Washington for Game 5 on Saturday. Ovechkin the 14-times major winner August, with more grass around came down on a two-on-one rush with Nicklas announced on Tuesday. Woods the greens expected to offer bet- Backstrom and one-timed a pass off the right has been trying out the ter lies for chip shots. post-then batted it out of the air into the to TaylorMade clubs for a while, and “It was really tough to chip break a 3-3 tie. has decided the time is right to around the greens (at the PGA) Ovechkin finished with a goal and an assist put them to the test in the heat of PITTSBURGH: Kris Letang #58 of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Brian Dumoulin #8 of the because it was so tight,” said while Backstrom had three assists. The Capitals competition. Pittsburgh Penguins check Tom Wilson #43 of the Washington Capitals while battling for defending champion Brian scored twice in the third period to rally for the “Phase 1 of irons development control of the puck during the first period in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Harman, who won last year’s Wells victory. Sidney Crosby and Jake Guentzel led the ... is complete. Looking forward to Second Round during the 2018 NHL Playoffs. — AFP Fargo at a different venue. While Penguins with a goal and an assist apiece. “I teeing it up this week,” he said on Woods will consume most atten- mean, if you want to be successful in the playoffs Twitter ahead of Thursday’s first you have got to win on the road, and especially tion, fans with an eye on the require surgery and a concussion because of Carlson ripped a long slap shot past goalie Matt round in Charlotte. The news because they won the first game, too,” Backstrom future could do worse than watch another high hit to the head,” Sullivan told Murray at the 48-second mark. comes more than a year after said, per The Washington Post. “It’s nicer to be up Joaquin Niemann. reporters. “At some point, we would hope that Guentzel tipped one past Capitals goalie Woods signed with TaylorMade, 2-1 than being down 2-1. We’re just excited for The 19-year-old from Chile fin- the league might do something.” Ovechkin called at 4:33 of the middle period to tie and after a disappointing per- the next game.” Much of the talk after the game ished sixth in his professional Wilson’s play “a great hit. A great, hard hit.” the game. Guentzel extended his postseason formance last month at the U.S. was about a hit that Capitals forward Tom Wilson debut at the Texas Open two Some Penguins players were all the more infuri- scoring streak to seven games. Pittsburgh then Masters. put on Penguins forward Zach Aston-Reese’s weeks ago. “It gave me a lot of ated that as Aston-Reese was lying on the ice, took a 2-1 lead when Patric Hornqvist scored a Woods struggled with his irons head, leaving him bloody and prone on the ice. confidence,” said Niemann, who Wilson was seen laughing on the Capitals’ bench. power-play goal at 6:49 of the second period. on the way to finishing tied for Pittsburgh coach Mike Sullivan said after the reckons his ability with the driver “I get the physical game. I get the physical He scored from in front after an Evgeni Malkin 32nd. “I felt I hit it well enough off game that Aston-Reese will need surgery for a should hold him in good stead this play. I’ve been on the wrong side of it,” shot bounced over to him. Washington tied it at the tee to do some things, but I hit broken jaw, and that he is being checked for a week. “Hitting fairways is one of Penguins defenseman Kris Letang said. “At the 11:04 of the second when Chandler Stephenson my irons awful for the week,” he concussion. Much of the Pens’ anger stems from my best parts of my game. I just end of the day, I respect what kind of game he scored after a quick centering pass from T.J. said after his final round at Wilson’s hit to the head on defenseman Brian need to hit fairways because the plays. But you don’t laugh at somebody getting Oshie. The Penguins then took the lead back Augusta National. Dumoulin in Game 2, driving him from the game. course is really long. You don’t hurt. You don’t do that.” The teams both had when Guentzel made a spectacular move to Woods, in his seventh start of As was the case with the hit on Dumoulin, no want to hit five-irons from the scoring chances in the first period but neither avoid Dmitry Orlov by the left circle and sent a the year after a successful spinal was called Tuesday. rough.” — Reuters side broke through until early in the second cross-ice pass that Crosby buried with 3:33 left fusion, will be joined at Quail “We lose a guy to a broken jaw that’s going to period. That was when Washington’s John in that wild second period. — Reuters

few good matches and one good tourna- was reluctant but then I realised it was I will work hard ment and it will come back.” the best long-term solution. Djokovic’s slump began after he won “The recent results have not been what his maiden French Open title in June 2016 we are used to but coming back is a to restore my to complete a career slam and amass 12 process and all I can do now is knuckle major honours. A string of below-par per- down to some hard work. confidence, formances were followed by Djokovic “I have had some similar situations in having to retire against Czech Tomas the past but not one quite as challenging Berdych in last year’s Wimbledon quarter- as this, so I have to accept it as part of a says Djokovic finals with an elbow injury which kept him learning process.” Judging by the ferocity sidelined until January’s Australian Open. of his shots in training and the vehement After a last 16 defeat by South Korean exchange of instructions with his coaching BELGRADE: Novak Djokovic said yester- upstart Hyeon Chung in Melbourne, staff, Djokovic, currently the world num- day his confidence had been rocked by a Djokovic had another spell on the side- ber 12, is determined to break back into string of poor results after a premature lines following elbow surgery and said he the top echelon of the men’s game. return from elbow surgery but the former had come back too early because he was Mobbed by primary school children as world number one vowed to work hard to hungry to play again. he posed with them for photos after the get back to winning ways. claycourt practice session, Djokovic cut a Having exchanged a few shots with a EARLY EXITS relaxed and confident figure ahead of young prospect after an intense training Since returning he has suffered early upcoming tournaments. session in searing heat at his own tennis exits in Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Miami He also rubbished suggestions made by complex in central Belgrade, the 30-year and Indian Wells. “That was my decision several local nutritionists, who were quot- old Serb conceded that the last 18 months because I missed playing tennis so much ed by Belgrade media in recent weeks, have been testing. but I was not ready and it backfired,” he that his meat-free diet was hampering his “I have always believed in myself and said. fitness. “I don’t want to elaborate because that’s why I was able to make all my child- “After everything I have been through people have been twisting facts in the past hood dreams come true, but right now my in the past year or so, I have had to lower two years and all I’ll say is that I reckon I confidence is not at the highest level,” he my expectations but my motivation and know what’s best for me as an athlete and told reporters. “That’s not surprising giv- my ambitions remain unchanged. “After a person,” he said. “It doesn’t affect me BELGRADE: Serbia’s player Novak Djokovic signs autographs to fans during a training en the lack of results and all I can do is this year’s Australian Open I wasn’t sure what people say, but it does affect those session in Belgrade, Serbia yesterday. — AFP knuckle down to hard work to restore it. A whether I’d have elbow surgery or not. I who are close to me.” — Reuters