Established 1961 19 Sports Sunday, May 17, 2020 , American boxer considered peerless in a time of greats ‘Each of the nine bouts between four men was memorable in its own way’

NEW YORK: Boxers are often remembered for remember,” he wrote in his searingly honest auto- epic one-off fights or career-defining rivalries but biography. In the ring, though, Leonard did himself few faced as many truly brilliant rivals as Sugar Ray proud and he remembers each of his rivals in their Leonard or beat them with enough regularity to be own way. He called a 1981 win over Hearns “my considered peerless in a time of greats. defining moment as a fighter”. Leonard, who turns 64 on Sunday, won six world Beating Hagler in 1987 after three years out of titles in five weight divisions but his career was as the game with a detached retina was, he said, his much about who he fought and how he fought them “proudest” moment. as what he won. As the 1970s ended, the iconic heavyweight era DURAN RIVALRY of Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and Joe Frazier Yet even today, more than three decades after was over and Leonard was moving to centre stage they last squared up, he is most closely linked with along with three other men, whose careers would Duran. all be defined by their rivalry. Before their first fight in June 1980, Duran got Leonard, Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler and inside Leonard’s head with a string of crude jibes fought each other nine times aimed at him and his family. It worked and Duran between 1980 and 1989 in beat Leonard to take the the or mid- WBC welterweight title dleweight divisions. the American had won “Each of the nine bouts less than a year before. between the four men was Leonard regained his memorable in its own way Moment as title five months later in and at least two of them the rematch known as the are commonly included on a fighter ‘No Mas’ (no more) fight any list of the greatest in which Duran simply fights of all time,” George waved Leonard away and Kimball wrote in his book gave up near the end of Four Kings, a study of round eight. their rivalry. It remains one of the Leonard, who burst on to the scene with a gold most unforgettable boxing matches of all time and Sugar Ray Leonard (left) and Roberto Duran greet each other with a hug. medal at the 1976 Olympics, saw boxing as a it still confounds the victor. branch of the entertainment business and he and “The No Mas thing was so bizarre,” Leonard his rivals created distinct personas to ramp up the told Reuters in an interview. “I was in the ring and I Duran for much of his success. “As crazy as it may Leonard, who now fronts the Sugar Ray rivalries. didn’t know what the hell was going on.” sound my first fight against Roberto Duran that I Leonard Foundation to knock out Type 1 and 2 dia- Hearns was “The Hitman”, known for his “Duran didn’t say anything... He didn’t say No lost was one of my proudest moments,” Leonard betes, is still friendly with Hearns, who he said destructive right hand. Hagler styled himself as Mas. I didn’t hear him say No Mas.” said. recently floated the idea of the two men fighting Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Duran, the unapologetic The fight, and its denouement, was so astonish- “I was contemplating retirement, I was wanting again – an idea he swiftly rejected. street brawler, went by the nickname “Manos de ing that a third decider had to happen. to pack it in after that fight because, first of all, that More surprisingly, he has become close buddies Piedra”, or . After beating and drawing with Hearns and fight took so much out of me against Roberto with his old nemesis Duran. “Of all the people in the The photogenic Sugar Ray, meanwhile, had the overcoming Hagler in a highly controversial split- Duran that I see I don’t need this any more.” world I never thought in a million years I would be smile and the charm. Behind the clean-cut image, decision, Leonard faced Duran again in 1989, beat- “But that fight made me a better fighter. It made friends with Roberto Duran,” he said. “But I am. I however, he was drinking heavily, doing drugs and ing the 38-year-old to retain the WBC super-mid- me a better fighter to take on Tommy Hearns in the love the guy, I respect the guy, I honour the guy cheating on his wife. dleweight belt. first fight. That first loss, it hurt physically and men- and we are friends, no question about that.” “He is “I embarrassed myself more often than I care to It was sweet revenge, and Leonard still credits tally and spiritually but it made me a better fighter.” special to me.” –Reuters

went groin surgery in December. face an aggressive team that takes the direct route Lewandowski ‘fitter The Bundesliga will become the first top to goal,” Flick said of Union. “We need to stand up European league to return this weekend during the and be counted. We can’t get a result just through pandemic with games behind closed doors. the quality of our football. than ever’ for Bayern head to Berlin with a four-point lead at “We have to show our mentality and take on Return of Serie A: the top of the table. Mid-table Union have beaten challenges.” Flick has plenty of selection options Bundesliga restart previous league leaders Dortmund and with only Philippe Coutinho, Corentin Moenchengladbach this season, but the terraces at Tolisso and Niklas Suele still sidelined by long- The key questions their compact east Berlin stadium will this time be term injuries. The Bayern boss admitted he is BERLIN: Bayern Munich striker Robert ROME: Uncertainty swirls as to whether Serie A can Lewandowski says he is fitter than ever ahead of empty. unsure whether the squad has the match fitness for really return to action as Italian football bosses hope today’s Bundesliga clash at FC Union Berlin and Poland captain Lewandowski sent records tum- the 90 minutes. “We had an internal friendly with on June 13 after a two-month coronavirus suspen- taking advice from World Cup record-holder bling by scoring in each of the first 11 league three 20-minutes games on Sunday. The intensity sion. Behind the united front, Italy’s 20 top-flight Miroslav Klose. games this season. He is now learning from ex- was very high,” he said. “But we don’t know clubs have very different interests while Sports The 41-year-old Klose, who holds the record of Germany striker Klose, who scored 53 goals in 150 whether the whole squad will be able to hold out Minister Vincenzo Spadafora has been blowing hot 16 goals scored at World Cup finals, has joined games for Bayern during his career and last week over 90 minutes.” and cold. Bayern’s staff and will be next to head coach Hansi signed a year-long contract to join the coaching Due to the German league’s hygiene guidelines, Meanwhile, the players may be back in individual Flick on the bench on Sunday. staff. players on the Bayern bench will wear protective training but are themselves divided in the face of a Lewandowski, 31, is enjoying the best season of “He was a great player and I know that he can masks, while those on the pitch have been told to very strict protocol required for group sessions his career, netting 25 goals in 23 league games and help us with his experience and skills,” added avoid handshakes or celebration hugs. which begin on May 18. on course to better his 30-goal haul in both Lewandowski. “You can learn something new from Flick said his stars are briefed on what to Here AFP sport looks at the key questions over a 2015/16 and 2016/17. any coach to become a better player.” expect. “Not much will change except for the return to ‘Calcio’ in football-mad Italy. The league’s top-scorer has used the time since Union’s Swiss coach Urs Fischer will not be in wearing of masks in the dressing room,” he said. the Bundesliga halted in mid-March, to prevent the charge of the hosts for today’s game having bro- “We discussed with the players what they can WHAT IS THE STUMBLING BLOCK? spread of the coronavirus, to improve his fitness. ken the team’s quarantine following a family expect. — Lega Serie A announced on Wednesday that “I feel better than ever before because I was bereavement. Nevertheless, Bayern head coach “More than 200 countries will be watching, we June 13 was the date they hoped to resume the able to work hard on my physical fitness for the Hansi Flick expects a tough match in Berlin. have an enormously large audience so we want to championship, with expectations boosted the fol- lowing day when the influential president of the last two months,” said Lewandowski, who under- “They’re a team with a great mentality. We will deliver a top performance.” —AFP Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) Giovanni Malago declared he was “99 percent” certain it would restart. But the optimism only lasted a few intention – to explain to the fans in Jamaica the rea- hours. On Thursday evening, a press release from Gayle admits sons behind what has now become my second the League and then another from the professional departure from the Tallawahs franchise,” he said in a players’ union (AIC) made it clear that the resump- statement. tion of collective training, scheduled for Monday, ‘damaging’ Sarwan “It was my greatest wish to finish my CPL career remains very uncertain. in Jamaica, playing in front of my home crowd at Many clubs consider that the health protocol, virus comments Sabina Park with the franchise that I had previously painstakingly drawn up by the Italian football federa- led to two CPL titles. tion (FIGC) following recommendations of the gov- LONDON: Flamboyant batsman Chris Gayle said “In so far as my resentment at the treatment, I ernment’s Technical and Scientific Committee, is Friday he “stood by his comments” over feelings of stand by my comments in those videos. My words impossible to enforce. Two points are proving particularly problematic. resentment at his exit from the Jamaica Tallawahs were spoken from the heart.” Gayle, however, The first concerns the logistical difficulties for clubs admitted that such remarks “may be viewed as team in the Caribbean Premier League. to try and organise a two-week group training peri- However, he admitted that his description of for- being damaging to Cricket West Indies, and to the od from next Monday. Players would theoretically mer West Indies teammate Ramnaresh Sarwan as CPL Tournament and its brand. have to practice together, then eat and sleep at the “worse than the coronavirus” were “damaging”. “It was never my intention to damage the T20 Chris Gayle training centre or a hotel entirely available to the Gayle, 40, was released by Twenty20 franchise Tournament, as playing in the CPL has guaranteed team to avoid any risk of contagion. Many clubs do the Tallawahs last month and the big-hitting opener an opportunity for the past seven years to play in not have these facilities. held assistant coach Sarwan responsible during a front of the great fans of the Caribbean. This is a year. Although Gayle scored 116 in his second game The second concerns the government insistence remarkable 15-minute video posted on his YouTube privilege which I genuinely appreciate and have back, he managed only 243 runs in 10 innings as the on quarantine for the entire team and staff, in the channel. “Right now Sarwan, you are worse than the never taken for granted.” Tallawahs finished bottom of the table. event of a positive test. Italian clubs favour the coronavirus,” said Gayle. “You are a snake, you are Veteran left-hander Gayle, who has since joined Gayle spent much of his Test career in the same German model, where only the infected person is so vindictive still immature, still stabbing people in the St Lucia Zouks for this year’s edition of the CPL West Indies side as fellow batsman Sarwan who quarantined. “It’s something that worries us,” FIGC the back.” starting in August, led the Tallahwahs to the title in retired from international duty in 2016. president Gabriele Gravina said Friday of group After being summoned to explain his comments, 2013 and 2016. The self-styled ‘Universe Boss’, Gayle has not quarantine, as he conceded the possibility of playoffs Gayle attempted Friday to draw a line under the Then, after a spell with the St Kitts & Nevis played for the West Indies since last year’s was still being examined. controversy. “I made these videos with one single Patriots, the Jamaican rejoined the franchise last World Cup. —AFP WHO IS FOR, WHO AGAINST? — On Friday, the FIGC and Liga Serie A met and prepared new proposals to submit to Italy’s ministers AFP Sport looks at both sides of the row: “I’m “I’m not going to put my family at risk. What are for sport and health. But the common front that the Player divide not going to put my family at risk” they going to do, take money off me? I’ve been world of Italian football had managed to present in Watford captain Troy Deeney has been one of broke before so it doesn’t bother me. difficult discussions with the government seems to the loudest voices against returning to the pitch so “They’re talking about not playing in front of have cracked. According to all the sports media, Inter threatens Premier’s soon. Although the Premier League has agreed to fans until 2021. So if it’s not safe enough for fans to Milan are at the forefront of the “revolt”. Others fol- fund regular testing for players and staff, there is no be inside a stadium, why should it be safe for play- lowed, such as AC Milan, Atalanta, Napoli, Fiorentina, restart plan guarantee of keeping the virus at bay while vaccine ers to be in there?” Sampdoria and Genoa. In total, more than half of all trials remain in the early stages. Critics of Deeney’s view have noted that Watford Serie A clubs would be opposed to the idea of train- LONDON: The Premier League’s bid to restart Adding to Deeney’s concern, black and ethnic were just outside the relegation zone on goal differ- ing next Monday without more guarantees. the season in June is in danger of being derailed minorities are statistically more at risk of dying from ence when the season was halted, so his club would Some, especially those at the bottom of the table, by a heated debate between players about the the virus, leaving him adamant he will not gamble clearly benefit from the season being abandoned. may have more to gain with a season definitively risks of playing amid the coronavirus crisis. While with his family’s life just to satisfy the desire for But Manchester City stars Sergio Aguero and stopped. Others, like Lazio, are still pushing for a Premier League chiefs believe completing the football to resume. Raheem Sterling have also raised concerns about return. The Roman club are second, just one point behind Juventus when football was suspended on campaign is essential to safeguard the financial “I’m not even talking about football at the restarting, while Newcastle’s Danny Rose, on loan March 9 and firmly believe in their chances of a first moment. I’m talking about my family’s health,” from Tottenham, launched a furious rant about the and sporting future of the game, some stars are title in two decades. —AFP not so convinced. Deeney said on Instagram. situation. —AFP