SPORTS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2014 Age is just a number for history-making Hopkins

ATLANTIC CITY: Unlike other boxers who seem to age a little son of a city rubbish collector. with each punch they absorb, is still a mar- Hopkins was arrested more than two dozen times and vel to watch at 49 years of age. stabbed three times. Boxing was his way out of the projects. The Philadelphia native is gearing up for his 66th profes- But not before he served time in prison for armed robbery. He sional bout as he tries to increase his record as the oldest was paroled at age 23. world champion in boxing history. Hopkins hopes to dispose of Kovalev, who is 21 years his He will be two months shy of his 50th birthday when he junior, and then defend his title at age 50. But the Russian seeks to defy Father Time once more by squaring off against slugger is Hopkins’ most dangerous challenger in more than a Russian Sergey Kovalev in a unification decade. fight today at arena. “All roads lead to this fight. This is a huge fight in my SYDNEY: Australia’s cricket team captain Michael “This isn’t about being an athlete, a boxer or whatever it is. career and in my life,” Kovalev said on Thursday. “Bernard Clarke (second left) laughs with former captains This is something separate. Me as a man. I’ve been here since Hopkins is a legend. He is a professor of . Ricky Ponting (left), Steve Waugh (right) and Allan 1965. I have been special ever since. I still have the hunger to This fight is dangerous for me but this fight is also dangerous Border as they gather around World Cup trophy in prove myself,” said Hopkins who hopes to add Kovalev’s WBO for him.” front of iconic land mark Opera House during a title to his WBA and IBF 170-pound belts. Kovalev has only one minor blemish on his career, a tech- was the oldest title holder until Hopkins nical draw. In his 25 wins, only four opponents have lasted media event for the 100-day countdown to the 2015 showed up on the scene. Foreman last fought at 48 and won more than four rounds. Cricket World Cup. —AFP his last title at 45. “In the beginning of my career, I was ready to fight any- Hopkins turned pro in October 1988 when Ronald Reagan where at anytime. No one knew me in America and I built my was president, fighting for a quarter century. “I don’t mind career from zero. I fought any place, any opponent,” Kovalev wary putting my wits up against anyone’s wits today,” said Hopkins said. on Thursday. “When I step into the ring I am at war with Kovalev, who goes by the nickname “Krusher” has earned everybody.” a reputation as a hard puncher. In 2011, Kovalev fought and of Scotland Hopkins, who grew up on the crime-plagued streets of beat Roman Simakov who suffered brain injuries and died : Argentina coach Daniel Hourcade is wary of the north Philadelphia, is the second of eight children and the three days later. —AFP influence of his opposite number, , as he looks to build on the ’ maiden Rugby Championship victory last month in the opening match of their November European tour against Scotland at Murrayfield today. The South Americans have arrived in Scotland’s capital city on a high after finally breaking their Rugby Championship duck with a 21-17 success against Australia in Mendoza on October 4. Hourcade, however, is cautious about the effect Kiwi coach Cotter might have on a youthful Scottish XV in his first home match-to such an extent that he has been studying Clermont Auvergne’s style of play. Cotter spent eight years as the guiding light with Clermont in the French before joining Scotland immediately prior to the June tour in which they beat a shadow Argentina side, comprising entirely home-based players, 21-19 in Cordoba. “We expect a different challenge from Scotland this time,” said Hourcade. “They are playing at home under a new coach who will really want to show his way of working. He’s had longer to work with his players than he did in June. “We have analysed mostly the style of the coach. We have looked at the way his team played at Clermont. I imagine that his style of rugby is not going to change much from that, although we know there are different players with different characteristics in the Scotland team. “For us, it is very important that we reproduce what we did in NEW YORK: Bernard Hopkins looks on during a workout for an upcoming fight against Sergey Kovalev at the Rugby Championship. Getting a win has given us confi- dence. It has shown that we are on the way.” Gleason’s Gym. —AFP Hourcade has made five changes to the team that defeated Australia in a starting XV featuring just three survivors from the side beaten by Scotland five months ago. Pakistan want whitewash momentum against Kiwis Juan Cruz Guillemain of Stade Francais makes his debut in the second row, while Juan Martin Hernandez-waiting to join ABU DHABI: Pakistan will look to keep their winning momentum “I am confident that we will play good cricket against New Zealand, Toulon in January after leaving Racing Metro in July-returns at which gave them a long-awaited series victory over Australia when and we should play that way,” said Misbah. “There is confidence in the inside centre for his 50th cap. they face New Zealand in the first Test in Abu Dhabi tomorrow. side and not a weak link that you can see. The batsmen are in good Ten of Cotter’s chosen XV have been drawn from the dynam- Pakistan achieved a rare 2-0 win with emphatic 221-run and 356- form, the bowlers are delivering. Given that we are playing in the same ic side who claimed eye-catching victories at run victories for their first series win over Australia in 20 years. The win conditions, we are confident that we can perform well.” home to Bath and away to Montpellier in the opening two was more significant as Pakistan were without their match-winning Pakistan have retained the same 16-man squad for the first Test rounds of the European Rugby Champions Cup. spinner Saeed Ajmal who is suspended due to illegal bowling action and will likely make no changes from the second Test against Australia scrum-half , the Scotland captain, is while spearheads Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz were both injured. which was played at the same Abu Dhabi venue. the only non-Glasgow player selected behind the pack, partner- But an inexperienced bowling attack of left-arm spinner Zulfiqar New Zealand hope leg-spinner Ish Sodhi can come good after tak- ing -a veteran of just two caps-at half back. Babar (14 wickets) and leggie Yasir Shah (12) forced spin-shy Australia ing five wickets in the drawn side game against Pakistan ‘A’. The emerging Mark Bennett makes his debut at outside cen- into submission in both Tests. The Kiwis will also hope their experienced middle-order batsman tre, while in the pack Glasgow lock plays his first ever Pakistan will continue to attack a New Zealand team who also Ross Taylor is fully fit after suffering a calf injury and having managed game of rugby alongside his elder brother Richie, having made struggle against spin and have not won a Test series against Pakistan just 11 in the tour game in Sharjah. New Zealand coach Mike Hesson his Scotland debut as replacement for the Castres second row since a 2-0 triumph at home in 1985. admitted Pakistan will be tough in the familiar conditions of the United against last November. More impressive is Pakistan’s home record, having not lost against Arab Emirates where they have been forced to play since terrorist Scotland have not beaten Argentina at home since 1990, a the Black Caps since 1969. Of the 50 Tests between the two, Pakistan attacks caused a suspension of international cricket in their country in run of five defeats, and have not won at Murrayfield for 12 have won 23 and New Zealand just seven with 20 drawn. 2009. “Pakistan are an incredibly tough team to play in conditions months-since opening their 2013 November campaign with a The New Zealanders will be huge underdogs. For Pakistan, Younis favourable to them. Our record against them is actually the worst 42-17 victory against Japan. Khan mustered 468 runs in two Tests against Australia while Misbah-ul against any of the Test playing nations, having won just two out of 19 Asked about the heavy Glasgow influence, Cotter replied: “I Haq and Azhar Ali notched a century in each innings of the second series, both home and away.” think combinations of players who play together at clubs always Test. Opener Ahmed Shehzad and Sarfraz Ahmed also hit hundreds in The remaining two Tests will be played in Dubai (November 17-21) helps at international level. “Glasgow have been performing the first Test, a confidence boost which Misbah is confident will be and Sharjah (November 26-30). After the Tests, the teams will also play very well and that is reflected in this team selection.” —AFP maintained. two Twenty20s and five one-day internationals. —AFP