SPORTS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2014 Klitschko inches towards Joe Louis’ record BERLIN: Vladimir Klitschko chases the 17th defense of impressive record of 52 knock-outs in 62 wins with the Ustinov and Alexander Dimitrenko in 2012 and his his world heavyweight crowns against unbeaten Kubrat last of his three defeats now over a decade ago. unanimous win over Tony Thompson in August 2013 Pulev today with the legendary Joe Louis’ record of 25 “Somebody from his entourage is pulling his strings.” earned him the right to fight Klitschko. He kept busy defenses in the division getting closer. The 38-year-old Pulev enjoyed knockout wins over Alexander last year by forcing both Joey Abell of the USA and Klitschko has held at least the IBF and IBO heavyweight Croatia’s Ivica Perkovic into retiring in the early rounds titles since 2006, adding the WBO title in 2008 by beat- of their bouts. “I am going to be dangerous, pressing ing Sultan Ibragimov, before a unanimous decision the action today. Vladimir will have to move a lot inside against Britain’s David Haye in 2011 gave him the WBA the ring,” said Pulev. “This is going to be the most crown. It says as much for Klitschko’s longevity as the important fight of my career to date.” But Klitschko has lack of genuine contenders that the giant Ukrainian has seen it all before. The champion brushed off the latest had few peers in the division. Klitschko takes on Pulev extreme efforts by USA boxer Shannon Briggs on in his home town Hamburg’s O2 World, near the Imtech Wednesday to earn a shot at the Ukrainian’s belts. Arena where he beat Haye more than three years ago. Briggs, 42, gate-crashed Klitschko’s opening training The Bulgarian has earned his first world title fight by session in Hamburg before being ejected from the becoming the IBF’s mandatory challenger. building by security guards. “The people don’t want The 33-year-old has 11 knock-outs in 20 victories on Klitschko anymore. I’m the real champ. The world wants his unblemished record, but sparked animosity when to see the Klitschko-Briggs fight,” bellowed the he boycotted Monday’s pre-fight press conference hav- American. He also disrupted the press conference ing been left fuming after members of his promotional before Klitschko’s last fight against Australia’s Alex team were denied access. “Because Klitschko is not Leapai in April, then a scuffle broke out when Briggs behaving correctly, he doesn’t get my respect,” said approached Klitschko while he was eating in an Italian Pulev. “He isn’t afraid and he will be tested (during the restaurant in Miami. He even taunted Klitschko, the bout).” The Ukrainian champion pulled out of the origi- WBO, IBF, IBO and WBA champion, from a speedboat nal fight in September due to a bicep injury and was HAMBURG: Ukrainian boxer Die Vladimir Klitschko while the Ukrainian was stand-up paddle surfing in unimpressed by the challenger’s pre-fight behavior. “I (left) faces Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev at the weighing Florida. “I really couldn’t care less what he does,” said cannot believe it. He is ill-advised and it looks like brain- yesterday in Hamburg on the eve of their heavy- Klitschko, 38, after Briggs’ latest stunt. “I will just con- washing,” said a bemused Klitschko, who has an weight boxing title fight. — AFP centrate on the fight.” — AFP Kim grabs early lead at LPGA Ochoa Invitational MEXICO CITY: American Christina Kim, seeking her first LPGA title since 2005, fired a seven-under-par 65 to grab a one-stroke lead after Thursday’s first round of the Lorena Ochoa Invitational. The 30-year-old US standout took a one-stroke lead over Spain’s Azahara Munoz with New Zealand teen Lydia Ko, this season’s LPGA Rookie of the Year, alone in third on 68. Kim’s bogey-free round included eagles at the par-five sec- ond and 17th holes in Mexico City, where she led after the first round for the first time since 2008. Kim has only two top-10 finishes this year but one was a runner-up effort at the ShopRite LPGA Classic. “It seems like every Sunday I have been playing well, just shoot myself in the foot the first couple rounds,” Kim said. “So before we started, TJ (Jones, her caddie) said, ‘Let’s pretend it’s Sunday and go from there.’ It has Pakistani cricket captain Misbah-ul Haq been a lot of fun.” Kim’s only two LPGA titles came at the 2004 Longs Drugs Challenge and 2005 Tournament of Champions. She won a Ladies European Tour event, Steady Misbah writes his the Sicilian Ladies Italian Open, in 2011. A closing bogey cost Munoz a share of the lead. The Spaniard opened with birdies at the first and name in Pakistan history third holes, took a bogey at the fourth but closed the front nine with a birdie. She ran off three birdies in five ABU DHABI: Four years and three months fast bowlers banned and jailed in Britain. been similar to the journey of my life-not holes starting at the par-4 12th and eagled the 17th. “I ago a frustrated Misbah-ul-Haq considered Under Misbah’s unflappable guidance, being in the side was one of the toughest played so well,” Munoz said. “I made a lot of good putts burning his cricket equipment and leaving the side seems to have left behind the con- times not only in my career but in my life as and I actually should have made a lot more so that was the game for good. But on Thursday he troversies and off-field antics that plagued it well; but I never give up,” he said. “Since I nice.” Ko, a 17-year-old South Korean-born Kiwi, has made history, becoming Pakistan’s most suc- in the past. Misbah said it had been a tough was called up to lead the team I obviously already clinched top newcomer honors with two cessful Test captain of all time as his men journey. “When I look back today I was not had to justify my position as a batsman too.” events remaining this season. secured a thumping 248-run win over New even in the team,” he said. He had been His cautious approach with the bat earned She has won twice this year after two Canadian Zealand in Abu Dhabi. In recording his 15th dropped for the fateful England tour of 2010, Misbah the derogatory nickname “Tuk-tuk” Women’s Open wins as an amateur pushed the LPGA victory as skipper, the much-maligned which ended in disgrace for the team as cap- from Pakistani fans who prefer the high- to allow her onto the tour a year ahead of the usual Misbah eclipsed Imran Khan and Javed tain Butt and bowlers Mohammad Asif and octane big hitting of Shahid Afridi. minimum age of 18. Ko opened with a bogey but Miandad, giants of the game in Pakistan, Mohammad Aamer were caught by a news- But Misbah answered his critics in the answered with back-to-back birdies on the next two who captained the side to 14 Test wins paper agreeing to bowl no-balls to order. “It second Test, equalling the great Viv Richards’ holes and again at the sixth and seventh. She took apiece. was a tough situation but bad days or good record for the fastest Test century of all time, The New Zealand win came on the back days I never lost hope, and today I am placed off just 56 balls. another bogey at the par-5 11th and closed with back- of a 2-0 whitewash of Australia, Pakistan’s above Imran and Miandad as Test captain That innings typified the anger of a man to-back birdies to stand alone in third. Thailand’s first series win over the Aussies in 20 which I had never thought of,” said Misbah. keen to show his detractors that he can play Pornanong Phatlum and Americans Lizette Salas and years.With his calm, dogged perseverance, with aggression while still acting responsi- Gerina Piller shared fourth on 69. World number two Misbah stands apart from the perennial tur- ‘Never give up’ bly for the good of the team. Former cap- Park In-Bee of South Korea, trying to overtake US rival bulence and upheaval of Pakistani cricket The 40-year-old had some low moments tain Rashid Latif said Misbah deserves all Stacy Lewis for the top spot in the rankings, was in a and he can now hold his head up among the this year. He scored just 67 runs in Pakistan’s the accolades. “He has led Pakistan in an pack of seven on 70 that included defending champion greatest ever to lead his country. He took 2-0 series defeat in Sri Lanka in August and admirable manner,” said Latif. “He deserves Lexi Thompson. Lewis was on 76 and without a birdie over the team at one of its darkest moments, dropped himself for the last one-day interna- the highest civil award of Pakistan for set- in her opening round. — AFP in the wake of the 2010 spot-fixing scandal tional against Australia, just before the Test ting the team on a path of recovery and to that saw then-captain Salman Butt and two series.”The journey of the Pakistan team has greatness.” —AFP.