Sports FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2015 Klitschko sees unhappy ending for ‘Rocky Balboa’ opponent NEW YORK: Long-reigning world heavyweight on the front, looked like a kid brother as he stared champion Wladimir Klitschko likens his next chal- up at Klitschko for photographers. “I’m ready lenger, Bryant Jennings of Philadelphia, to the because I’ve got to be ready,” Jennings, 30, told Rocky Balboa character of film fame. But the tow- Reuters about measuring up to the task. “Size? In ering Ukraine who has ruled the division for nine the NBA at one point (former Philadelphia guard) years does not predict a happy ending for Allen Iverson was the most dominant player on Jennings in their April 25 clash at Madison Square the court and was amongst the smallest. “I bring Garden. “I think Bryant is Rocky Balboa,” Klitschko youth. I bring will. I bring heart. I bring speed. I said Wednesday referencing the lead character in have a fighting spirit. I’m relentless.” Klitschko, 38, Sylvester Stallone’s “Rocky” series. says he takes fights one at a time, but could not “He’s from Philadelphia. He’s someone who help but think ahead to a clash with former spar- started late in boxing. He’s a top contender. I can ring partner and knockout artist Deontay Wilder. see the desire and will, the way he carries himself. Wilder owns the WBC belt previously held by Makes me think this fight is going to be exciting. Klitschko’s brother Vitali, who after retiring from This is his life chance.” But Klitschko likes his boxing was elected mayor of Kiev, Ukraine’s chances as holder of five heavyweight belts and a biggest city. Winning that belt would complete the 63-3 record. “As the champion, I am the Bad Man. I Klitschko collection. “We need to do it and we have am the Baddest Man on the Planet in boxing,” said to do it,” Klitschko said about a match with Wilder. Klitschko, who has made 17 title defenses during “There is certainly a reason why I’m back here and an uninterrupted reign started in 2006 for the sec- why I’m fighting on US television live on US soil,” ond longest heavyweight run behind legendary said Klitschko, who has fought in Europe exclusive- NEW YORK: World Heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko of Ukraine (left) Joe Louis. ly since his last Garden bout in 2008. “(Wilder) is the and US challenger Bryant Jennings pose for photographers during a news conference at Jennings is 19-0, but at 6-3, 225 pounds and most valuable opponent for me to fight and the the Madison Square Garden in New York. Klitschko will defend his WBA and IBF heavy- wearing a black tee shirt with “I MATTER!” lettered price is the title that he has.”— Reuters weight titles against Jennings on April 25 in New York. — AFP Sri Lanka bank on parting shot from Sangakkara, Jayawardene SYDNEY: Sri Lankan batting stalwarts Kumar Sangakkara and 1996 50-over World Cup and finished runners-up at the last two Lasith Malinga has been a huge headache and the availability of Mahela Jayawardene are eyeing the perfect finish to their illustrious editions, will hope lightning strikes twice. “We may not have won the mercurial fast bowler is crucial to Sri Lanka’s prospects in 50-over careers by winning the World Cup next month after two those two tournaments, but reaching two successive finals showed Australia and New Zealand, where they have been drawn in Pool A near misses. While right-handed Jayawardene will quit all forms of we played consistently well,” Jayawardene, who has amassed over alongside the two co-hosts, England, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and the game after the Feb 14-March 29 event, the left-handed 12,500 runs in ODIs, said. “Hopefully we can cross the line this Scotland. Sri Lanka lost a seven-match series 4-2 in New Zealand Sangakkara may yet continue to play test cricket. Their retirement, time.” Sangakkara is the highest run-getter for Sri Lanka in the for- last month after their bowlers allowed the hosts to recover from though, could be seen as a good omen. mat with 13,693 runs and will hope to continue his prolific form at precarious positions on more than one occasion. Chief selector When the duo, the leading active run-scorers in 50-over cricket, the showpiece event. Sanath Jayasuriya expressed his displeasure with the performance announced their intention to quit the shortest format of the game While the duo, along with captain and all-rounder Angelo of the bowling attack while praying for the return to full fitness of prior to the 2014 Twenty20 World Cup, Sri Lanka went on to win Mathews, will lead a strong batting attack, Sri Lanka’s bowling has the 31-year-old Malinga. “The bowling department is an area of the tournament in Bangladesh. The island nation, who won the looked weak in recent matches. The fitness of pace spearhead concern. —Reuters Co-hosts NZealand loom Scotland determined to break cricket as popular dark horses WCup duck WELLINGTON: New Zealand are looming as the popular dark hors- is still one of the world’s most economical bowlers in limited overs SYDNEY: Registering their first victory in a World Cup match is es for the cricket World Cup with Brendon McCullum’s side eager to cricket, is expected to tie up one end while Tim Southee, Kyle Mills, the “realistic target” Scotland’s young and hungry team have set shake off the ‘nearly but not quite’ tag. The co-hosts have often Trent Boult, Mitchell McClenaghan and fast bowler Adam Milne themselves in their third appearance in the biggest 50-over tour- punched above their weight at the global showpiece with the sum attack at the other end.— Reuters nament. In their two previous appearances in 1999 and 2007 of all parts proving to be stronger than the teams that have gone Scotland failed to win a match and have been drawn in Pool A into the tournament with one or two world beaters. New Zealand alongside joint hosts Australia and New Zealand, England, Sri have made the semi-finals six times in 10 editions but never made Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan this time. it to a final, falling to Sri Lanka in the last two tournaments. In their last World Cup campaign in 2007, Scotland were However, they beat Angelo Mathews’ side, albeit without the thrashed in a 203-run defeat to Australia and also suffered seven dangerous fast bowler Lasith Malinga, 4-2 in a recent series which and eight-wicket losses at the hands of South Africa and the should stand them in good stead if they meet again in the knock- Netherlands respectively. They also suffered heavy defeats in out stages after they face off in the opening game. It was the sec- 1999 but despite their dismal record, optimism is high within ond series victory over a team ranked higher than them at home in their camp that Scotland are on the verge of a successful World the past 12 months, having beaten India 4-0 last year, and follows Cup. Their success will, however, not be defined by fixtures their come-from-behind series win over Pakistan in UAE last against cricketing giants such as Australia, Sri Lanka and England December. Such is their progress in the past two years under cap- but rather against the relatively weaker opponents in Bangladesh tain McCullum and coach Mike Hesson several pundits have and Afghanistan. installed them as third favorites behind four-times champions Scotland will particularly fancy their chances against 50-over Australia and South Africa, who thrashed them in a series in New World Cup debutants Afghanistan, who they beat by 150 runs Zealand last October. last month in Abu Dhabi. “There is so much natural ability in this “New Zealand are certainly a team to look out for in this tourna- squad and we go to the World Cup aiming to do what no other ment,” former South Africa captain Graeme Smith told the Cricinfo squad has done before, and win games of cricket,” head coach website in late January. “A very exciting team and I think a team Grant Bradburn said in a statement while announcing his 15-man that other teams will say, ‘jeez, I don’t really want to come up squad last month. Former New Zealand spinner Bradburn will against them in a knockout game’.” The side’s attacking batting also have the experienced Paul Collingwood, England’s most lineup has been settled for a number of years with Martin Guptill, capped ODI player and second highest run scorer, as part of his Ross Taylor and captain McCullum to provide the bulk of the runs coaching staff. with Kane Williamson expected to be the glue that holds the While Scotland’s squad is mostly made up of young players, innings together, while South African-born Grant Elliott will bat at they also have the mix of experienced cricketers such as Kyle five. Coetzer, Iain Wardlaw and Majid Haq. The trio are three of the The 35-year-old, a surprise inclusion in the squad after not fea- most consistent and effective cricketers outside the 10 test-play- turing for 14 months, is a calm head and has a strong batting ing nations and are likely to spearhead Scotland’s charge. “We record at home, where he averages 46.37, compared to his career have set our targets for the World Cup and these include taking average of 32.62.