SPORTS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2014 Golovkin trying to keep KO streak alive v Rubio LOS ANGELES: puts his time for GGG and will lead to the winner of Angeles. The bout with Rubio at the StubHub Association world title against unbeaten record and World Cotto/Canelo fighting him or vacating the Center in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson- Jamaican . Donaire, who has Association middleweight world title on the WBC title,” he said. “How some people rate home of Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles won titles at 112, 118 and 122 pounds, has line today against resilient Mexican Marco Cotto over GGG at 160 is beyond me. Galaxy-sold out quickly. Extra seats and a recently lacked the dominance he enjoyed in Antonio Rubio-with an eye toward even big- “Nobody that I have spoken to thinks he standing-room section were added-a sign an outstanding 2012 - when he went 4-0 ger things ahead. A victory for the hard-hit- would have a chance against GGG.” not only of Rubio’s ability to draw a large fol- with two knock-outs in world title fights. He’ll ting Kazakh star, 30-0 with 27 of those victo- Although Golovkin offers plenty of fireworks lowing of Mexican-American fans but also of be making his first defense of the feather- ries coming by knock-out, could get him in in the ring, he eschews the pre-bout baiting Golovkin’s growing popularity. Rubio, 34, weight title he won in Macau in May, when line to face the winner of the projected fight and trash-talking beloved of many fight fans. brings a 59-6-1 record to the bout. Since a he defeated South African between champion Trainer Abel Sanchez told the Los Angeles 2012 loss to Julio Cesar Chavez jnr he’s 6-0, in a fight that ended in an anti-climactic Miguel Cotto and Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in Times that when he first met Golovkin, he although none of those fights were against . In Walters he’ll be taking Las Vegas in May. Golovkin’s brutal three- didn’t believe he could be vicious in the ring. top-flight middleweights. “He’s got power. on a hard-hitting fighter hungry for success round demolition of former champion Daniel “He’s too well-mannered,” Sanchez said, He’s got a very good left hand,” Golovkin in his first world title fight. Donaire brings a Geale of Australia at although that assessment changed when he said. “He does a great job in his fights and record of 33-2 with 21 knock-outs to the in July was his 17th successive knock-out-a began training Golovkin in California. “When he’s got a good record. I know it’s not an easy fight, while Walters, fighting for the second streak stretching back to 2008. he hit the mitts, I felt it all over, down to my fight for him or for me. But the fans will really time in the United States, is 24-0 with 20 But he has yet to fight on a major money- toes,” Sanchez said. Golovkin, who launched enjoy it.” knock-outs. “He’s a very powerful puncher,” spinning pay-per-view television card, and at his professional career in Germany after win- Donaire acknowledged. “Anybody can see 32 he’s eager make that leap. Promoter Tom ning a silver medal at the Athens Olympics, Tough defense for Donaire that. And that’s what we’re looking out for Loeffler certainly believes Golovkin should be spent much of 2013 training with Sanchez at On the same card, Nonito Donaire of the is his power. I mean, I have the same there. “Rubio is clearly the best move at this Big Bear, in the mountains east of Los defends his World Boxing thing.”—AFP Manning closing Laird, Cink share PGA in on TD record LOS ANGELES: Peyton Manning has one of the NFL’s most Tour Las Vegas lead revered records in his sights tomorrow, but the Denver Broncos quarterback insists the only number that interests him is a win- ning score against San Francisco. Manning needs three touch- Golf-Birthday boy Els grabs lead in Hong Kong down passes to break Brett Favre’s career record of 508. “It’s not something we talk about as an offense,” says Broncos tight LAS VEGAS: Scotland’s Martin Laird got off to a hot start and Smith matched Els’ 65 while the big-hitting Hend helped end Julius Thomas. “Peyton doesn’t talk about it. We just keep held on to share the first-round lead with Stewart Cink on his cause with a bogey-free 66 that included two birdies on playing football.” Thursday in the US PGA Tour’s Shriners Hospitals Open. Laird each nine of the Fanling course being used for the co-sanc- The 49ers, who boast the league’s second-ranked pass and Cink both carded seven-under par 64s and were one tioned European and Asian Tour event. “It’s one of those golf defense in terms of yards allowed, are keen to make sure stroke in front of Scotland’s Russell Knox. It was a further courses where you can’t overpower the golf course,” he said. Manning’s latest milestone doesn’t come against them. “Big stroke back to a group of six players on 66: Australian Jarrod “You just have to take your ticket and wait for your number challenge. Huge task. A tremendous offense. Great quarter- Lyle, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and Americans Bo Van Pelt, to come around before you make a birdie and that’s how you back. That competitive challenge is something that I think our Brian Stuard, Andrew Svoboda and Sam Saunders. have to look at it.” India’s Randhawa, who opened with a 64, team, our defense, will be up for,” 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh The second tournament of the US tour’s 2014-15 season struggled to a 70 to fall into a share of fifth place with 10 oth- said, although injuries have taken a toll on San Francisco. sees Lyle in action for the second straight week-his first starts er players. Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez, bat- Already without linebacker NaVorro Bowman, pass rusher since twice receiving treatment for leukemia. He finished tied tling a stomach bug, fired 70 to miss the cut on two-over. Aldon Smith and nose tackle Glenn Dorsey, San Francisco’s for 31st last week after qualifying for the season-opener, and is “These two days, I walk the golf course like a phantom,” the defensive unit trained Wednesday without linebackers Patrick playing this week on a sponsor’s exemption. Organizers didn’t four-time champion admitted. “My condition is not 100 per- Willis and Jimmie Ward because of injuries. quite squeeze in the entire first round at TPC Summerlin, cent. Of course, I will come back next year. I love this Injuries limited cornerbacks Perrish Cox, Chris Culliver and where darkness halted play with three players still to finish. place.”— Agencies Chris Cook in practice. “I still see a well-coached team, a disrup- Laird, who held the halfway lead in Napa, California, last week, tive front and guys making plays in the secondary,” said birdied three of his first four holes. Manning, who threw three touchdown passes in a 31-17 victo- ry over the New York Jets last week. The 49ers have allowed He added back-to-back birdies at eight and nine, and nine touchdown passes so far this season-four of them in a 28- capped a bogey-free round with birdies at 15 and 18. Laird, 20 loss to Chicago. But Manning has only once been held who claimed his last US Tour title at the 2013 Texas Open, under 200 yards since joining the Broncos in 2012, and perhaps capped his round with a 40-foot birdie bomb at the final hole. more impressively, he’s thrown at least one touchdown pass in “It was nice to see that one go in,” Laird said. “I missed a bunch every single game with them. That 37-game touchdown streak of opportunities on the back nine, putted great on the front is the longest of his career, one that was shrouded in doubt and hit it actually better on the back than I did the front nine, after multiple neck surgeries sidelined him all of 2011. That he is just kept missing eight-, 10-footers.” Cink also played without now closing in Favre’s record “just speaks to the work ethic and a bogey, nabbing five of his seven birdies on the back nine. attention to detail he’s had his entire career,” Thomas said. “Well, 64 is good for anybody, I think, but on the first day of Manning’s opposite number, Colin Kaepernick, will try to keep the year, you don’t really ever know what’s going to come out, the 49ers rolling after a Monday night win over St Louis. the first day of the season,” said Cink, whose last victory came Kaepernick has passed for 10 touchdowns with four intercep- at the 2009 British Open. “I just kind of was patient and waited tions this season and added 242 yards on the ground. He knows for a good stretch, and a good stretch happened.” the game will put him in the spotlight with Manning. “I think we’re two people trying to lead our team to victories,” he said. Els grabs lead in HK “At the end of the day, that’s what we do.” In another development, four-times major winner Ernie Els celebrated his 45th birthday in style, firing a five-under-par 65 Streaking Cowboys to grab a two-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Hong Kong The streaking Dallas Cowboys, coming off a stunning tri- Open yesterday. The South African started the day two shots umph over the Super Bowl champion Seahawks in Seattle, take behind overnight leader Jyoti Randhawa before sinking four on NFC East division rivals the New York Giants, who are aim- birdies in five holes from the 13th to reach nine under for the ing to bounce back from a humbling loss to Philadelphia. The tournament, two shots ahead Raphael Jacquelin, Scott Hend Eagles trounced the Giants 27-0, New York’s offense, guided by and Cameron Smith. Eli Manning, produced 254 yards to the Eagles’ 448. Manning, “I played quite nicely and 65 is what I needed to do,” said younger brother of Peyton, said it’s crucial that the Giants Els, who had two more birdies to offset a lone bogey on the bounce back before going into their bye week. “We are playing par-four fourth, something he blamed on a lapse of concentra- in Dallas,” the Giants quarterback said. “They are playing great tion. “The fourth hole was a bit of a bummer but, you know, I football. It is in the division. This is a big one for us.” In other feel like my game’s right there. “I’m looking forward to the rest division match-ups in week seven, San Diego host Kansas City of the week and obviously in a good position,” Els said as he LAS VEGAS: Martin Laird reacts after sinking a birdie putt and Seattle try to bounce back from the loss to Dallas when prepared for a quiet birthday celebration. “I won’t have any on the 18th green during the first round of the Shriners they visit St Louis.—AFP alcohol to celebrate but I’ll have a bit of cake and relax back at Hospitals for Children Open golf tournament on Thursday, the hotel and see what we do for dinner tonight.” Oct 16, 2014. — AP