TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2015 SPORTS Mayweather’s legacy still up for debate

LAS VEGAS: Should Floyd Mayweather’s box- though, over Mayweather’s legacy as a fight- ing career now be over, as the undefeated er. “He is undefeated, which speaks for itself,” American insisted after easily beating Andre said the 52-year-old American, who was nick- Berto in their welterweight showdown on named ‘The Real Deal’ for his own exploits in Saturday, his place among the sport’s very the ring. “He can fight. He’s everything that a best is assured. lot of people may not give him credit for. “But He will certainly be remembered as one of he has done things his own way, which has the greatest defensive practitioners of all time been good but has been bad too.” because of his remarkable ability to stay away Outside the arena, ‘Money’ Mayweather’s from danger in the ring, right up there with pursuit of an equally accomplished life has fighters such as Pernell Whitaker and Willie often hit rocky ground. Over the last decade, Pep. As for his brash claim to be ‘TBE’ (The he has been accused of assaulting five differ- Best Ever), that will fall to historians to judge, ent women on at least seven different occa- though many pundits would be reluctant to sions, including a 2010 incident that resulted put him on a pedestal alongside true greats in a 90-day prison sentence. like Sugar Ray Robinson, Muhammad Ali, Joe “I’m a little different from everyone else,” Louis and Roberto Duran. said Mayweather who on Saturday tied Louis Part of the problem for Mayweather is with his 26th world title fight triumph. “I am public perception directly caused by the way only human, I make mistakes. I try to be a per- he promoted himself as a boxer, both inside fectionist but no one is perfect.” Overall, and outside the ring, with an extravagant though, Mayweather believes that he has lifestyle. His career-long pursuit of perfection, been misjudged by the media and the public. with his focus on iron-clad defence to stay “I’ve had a great career,” he said during a post- out of trouble, and his frequently arrogant fight news conference that lasted almost an showmanship helped him compile a stellar hour. “I’m very comfortable and I’ve made 49-0 record to match former heavyweight great investments. I’m A-okay. champion Rocky Marciano. “I’ve heard a lot of things about me: ‘All he All too often, though, he has been criti- does is hold. All he does is run. He’s cocky. cised for hand-picking his opponents, and Arrogant. No one likes him. He can’t write, there is also the question of his relatively low can’t read.’ And you all believe it. knockout rate, just 26 for a boxer who prides “It’s okay. If you all believe it, you’re dumb himself on his brilliant defensive skills and for believing it. I think everyone needs to go MANCHESTER: Australia’s Steven Smith (bottom centre) celebrates with teammates after winning the series agile movement. the Floyd Mayweather way.” Of course, there between England and Australia at Old Trafford ground. — AP Former world heavyweight champion is still the chance that Mayweather’s career is Evander Holyfield felt that Mayweather’s lega- not yet over, with the doubters pointing to cy was all about the ‘numbers’ game with the his unexpected U-turn when he came back Australia end tour on American bowing out as boxing’s richest ever from a 21-month retirement to fight Mexican prize fighter after setting records in the sport Juan Manuel Marquez in September 2009. when it comes to annual earnings, pay-per- Mayweather insists he is done. “My career view buys and gate receipts. is over. It’s official. I’m financially secure and “Mayweather has made more money than I’m in good health,” he said ringside after fin- a high, Morgan injured anybody else in the game of boxing,” ishing well ahead of Berto on all three judges’ Holyfield, who has been crowned world scorecards. MANCHESTER: Australia ended their tour of heavyweight champion a record five times “You’ve got to know when it’s time to England on a high with a 3-2 victory in the one- SCOREBOARD and watched Saturday’s fight at the MGM hang it up, so I think it’s about time for me to day international series as home captain Eoin Grand, told Reuters. hang it up.” However his trainer and father, Morgan suffered concussion after being hit on “He’s brought the game up in a way that Floyd Mayweather Sr., is less sure and has the head by a bouncer. The tourists, who lost the MANCHESTER, United Kingdom: Completed scoreboard in the fifth one-day international no other fighter ever has. He took boxing and cautioned his son-if he does return-to do so Ashes Test series by the same scoreline, wrapped between England and Australia at Old Trafford yesterday: turned it to a whole other level, whether peo- no more than six months after Saturday’s up an emphatic eight- win in the fifth and England (50 overs) : Starc 9-1-44-1 (1w); Hastings 10-2-21- ple believe it or not. “I don’t think we ever fight because of his advancing age as a boxer. deciding ODI at Old Trafford with 25.4 overs to J. Roy lbw by Starc 4 3; Cummins 6-0-33-0 (3w); Marsh 6-0-27-4 thought a welterweight or a middleweight “Fighting is never easy to do,” Mayweather Sr. spare thanks to ’s unbeaten 70. A. Hales c Maxwell b Hastings 4 (1w); Agar 2-0-12-1 would make more money than a heavy- told reporters shortly before his son’s post- had earlier picked up four for J. Taylor c Wade b Hastings 12 Australia weight but that is what this man has done.” fight news conference. “If you don’t want to 27 as England were dismissed for just 138 in 33 E. Morgan retired hurt J. Burns c Bairstow b Willey 0 Mayweather, 38, topped the Forbes list of fight, you better quit right then. overs with (42) and Adil Rashid (35 J. Bairstow lbw b Marsh 10 A. Finch 70 the world’s 100 highest-paid celebrities in “When your mind is telling you, ‘I don’t not out) the only players to really trouble the M. Ali c wade b Marsh 5 S. Smith c Bairstow b Wood 12 June with an estimated $300 million in earn- want to do this no more,’ you better not do it Australia attack. England played the majority of D. Willey lbw Marsh 0 G. Bailey not 41 ings over the previous 12 months. no more. Because if you continue to do it, the match without skipper Morgan, though, A. Rashid not out 35 Total (2 wkts, 24.2 overs) 140 Holyfield expressed mixed feelings, you’re going to get hurt.” — Reuters after he was struck on the helmet by a short ball M. Wood c Agar b Hastings 13 Did not bat: G. Maxwell, M. Wade, M. Marsh, A. - clocked at 90mph - from in the R. Topley lbw b Agar 6 Agar, J. Hastings, M. Starc, P. Cummins seventh over the game. Morgan, who scored Total (all out, 33 overs) 138 Fall of : 1-2 (Burns), 2-32 (Smith) one run and faced six balls prior to the blow, was Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Roy), 2-13 (Hales), 3-22 Bowling: Willey 6-3-13-1 (1w), Topley 5.2-1-33- hit just below his right ear as he turned his head (Taylor), 3-22* (Morgan, retired not out), 4-56 0 (1nb), Wood 5-1-25-1, Rashid 4-0-34-0, Ali 4- away. With the death of Australia opener Philip (Bairstow), 5-72 (Ali), 6-72 (Willey), 7-85 0-25-0 Hughes to a short ball in a first-class match in (Stokes), 8-106 (Wood), 9-138 (Topley) Result: Australia won by eight wickets. last November still fresh in the mind concerned Australian players quickly surround- ed the Dublin-born left-hander. Following treat- second wicket went down with the score on 31. with man-of-the match Marsh the pick as they ment by the England medical staff on the pitch However, Finch’s assault on the England took wickets at crucial times to bowl England the 29-year-old climbed to his feet and groggily bowlers proved to be the difference as he out in 33 overs. England lost (4) lbw made his way back to the dressing room, but showed some clean hitting to reach his half-cen- to Starc early on, although replays showed the was deemed unable to continue with James tury off 47 balls, taking a particular fancy to ball had been missing the stumps but the open- Taylor charged with skippering the hosts for the Rashid’s leg-spin. er took too long to decide whether to review remainder of the contest. Finch shared an unbroken stand of 109 with the decision. (4) and Taylor (4) were It proved an impossible task for Taylor with so George Bailey, who hit the winning runs to finish both removed by John Hastings, who claimed few runs on the board as Australia made light unbeaten on 41. Earlier, England had entered three for 21, before Morgan left the field. Stokes work of England’s total. England’s spirits were the decisive match brimming with confidence added a degree of respectability to the score raised briefly when Australia opener after they fought back to square the series at 2-2 with a 51-ball 42 which included six fours and departed for a duck after he swished wildly at a with a three-wicket win at Headingley on Friday. one six while Rashid boosted the total in a last- from David Willey and a feathered edge And, having won the toss and then watched wicket stand of 32 with England debutant found the gloves of England wicketkeeper Jonny his side compile 300-8 then bowl Australia out Reece Topley. Bairstow. for 207 at the same venue in the third ODI last However, their was brought to a England also secured the prize wicket of week, skipper Morgan again elected to bat halt when the stoic Topley was trapped plumb Australia captain when he nicked an when he called correctly. However, Australia’s lbw by spinner for six to leave attempted drive to Bairstow off as pace attack bowled tight lines and aggressively Australia with a comfortable chase. — AFP Mellor, Kenney to represent Abu Dhabi at Xerox Corporate Golf Challenge Final

DUBAI: The eighth qualifier of the Xerox Corporate Golf Challenge (XCGC), held at the Abu Dhabi Club’s National Course, saw Nick Mellor and Ron Kenney of team Lockheed Martin (score 44) secure a berth at the Grand Finals to be played in Ras Al Khaimah at the end of this year. 30 teams participated in the hotly- contested qualifier, and runners-up were team Team Palmers (Thomas Wiberg and Rune Rasmussew - Score 42) and Team Sprinks (Corey Spring and Paul Spinks - score 41). LAS VEGAS: Floyd Mayweather Jr. kneels at the end of his welterweight title fight On-course sponsored competitions saw Guy against Andre Berto in this file photo. — AP Williams win Aramex’s Hole 4 Nearest the Pin; Mick Fuerste claim Ecco’s Hole 12 Nearest the Pin; Rune Rasmussen take Crystal Gallery’s Uncapped Fekete, Bancroft Longest Drive Hole 9; John Allertson III walk away with PWS’s Longest Drive Hole 2 and S.J. named for Bangladesh tour Hwang with Hole 18’s Longest Drive. Winners from the Abu Dhabi Golf Club qualifier will play : Tasmania fast bowler Andrew Batsman has again been alongside other finalists in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, Fekete and opening batsman spared the selectors’ axe despite failing twice in December 2015. The Grand Finals will be a are in sight of a test debut during in England when handed his two-day, 36-hole game at Tower Links and Al after being named in an inexperienced Australia chance. “Our desire is that these players form Hamra golf courses, with overnight stay at the squad for next month’s tour of Bangladesh. The the nucleus of our top-order, alongside Steve Waldorf Astoria. The event is supported by Ras uncapped pair are the newcomers in captain Smith and , for the foreseeable Al Khaimah Tourism. Steven Smith’s 15-man squad, which includes 10 future, form and fitness permitting,” selectors players with less than 10 tests, as Australia look chairman Rod Marsh said in a media release. to rebuild following a string of retirements after Seven-test batsman has been the Ashes defeat in England. A late-bloomer installed as an unlikely vice captain in place of who made his first-class debut only two years Warner, who was scratched from the tour ago, 30-year-old Fekete will reinforce a pace after breaking a thumb in England. attack shorn of and Josh Hard-hitting limited-overs specialist Glenn Hazlewood. The pair have been rested after a Maxwell has also been recalled for the first “heavy workload” in recent months, Cricket time since the tour of the United Arab Australia said on Monday. Emirates last year against . Fekete will battle one-test bowler Pat Legspinner was omitted Cummins for a place in the tests in Chittagong after failing to impress in his limited chances (Oct. 9) and Dhaka (Oct. 17), with left-armer in the Caribbean and England, opening the Mitchell Starc and seasoned workhorse Peter door for left-arm spinner Stephen O’Keefe, Siddle expected to lead the attack. Bancroft, a who played his sole test in the UAE last year 22-year-old right-hander who can also keep and bowled well in the recent A tour of India. wicket, enjoyed a prolific tour with Australia A in India and will hope to clinch one of two Squad: vacant opening spots following the retire- Steven Smith (capt), Adam Voges (vice ment of and an injury to David captain), Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Pat Warner. Two-test right-hander Joe Burns is Cummins, Andrew Fekete, , another opening candidate, along with , Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Queensland captain Usman Khawaja, who has , , Stephen O’Keefe, been recalled for the first time in two years. , Mitchell Starc. — Reuters