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Established 1961 Sport WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2019 Zidane and Valverde to meet in Year in review: Tennis, Mavericks hold off Bucks to 25Clasico battle of the survivors 26 Cricket, Golf, Rugby 27 snap 18-game NBA win streak Brees sets NFL record for TD passes Saints thrash Colts 34-7 on Monday Night Football NEW ORLEANS: Quarterback Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints delivers a pass over the defense of the Indianapolis Colts at Mercedes Benz Superdome on Monday in New Orleans, Louisiana. — AFP WASHINGTON: New Orleans quarterback Drew already the NFL all-time leader in passing yardage and Super Bowl title in February. “I’m trying to focus on the Brees matched Manning’s mark with 6:11 remain- Brees became the NFL’s all-time touchdown pass completion percentage, stretched the new career TD present, stay in the moment and enjoy every moment ing in the second quarter on a 21-yard scoring strike leader on Monday, throwing four scoring tosses in the record with his final touchdown pass, a 28-yarder to as they come,” Brees said. “As for me, it’s on to the across the middle to Smith just over the goal line for Saints’ 34-7 rout of the visiting Indianapolis Colts. Taysom Hill late in the third period. Jordan Wilkins next opportunity, the next challenge. There is still a lot a 17-0 advantage. Brees made his first touchdown The 40-year-old signal caller, who guided New scored for the Colts on a 1-yard run late in the fourth more out there for me to play for. pass, a 15-yarder over the middle to Michael Orleans to the 2010 Super Bowl, now has 541 career quarter to avert a shutout, but a fourth consecutive loss “But it’s a special moment and one I’ll remember the Thomas, just 2:23 into the second quarter for a 10-0 touchdown throws, two more than the old mark by ended any playoff hopes for Indianapolis (6-8). rest of my life.” Brees reached the mark in 273 games, lead, New Orleans having scored first on a 33-yard retired legend Peyton Manning and three better than Brees completed 29-of-30 passes for 307 yards to seven more than Manning played in setting the record. Lutz field goal. 42-year-old New England Patriots starter Tom Brady. set another NFL record. His one-game completion Brees made two touchdown throws in the second Thomas made a five-yard reception from Brees ear- “Pretty incredible moment,” Brees said. “This is a spe- percentage mark of 96.7 percent broke the old record quarter to match the old Manning mark of 539. ly in the third quarter to reach 10 or more catches for cial night and one I will always remember.” of 28-of-29 (96.6 percent) set last season by Philip an eighth game this season, breaking the one-season Brees set the mark with 7:08 remaining in the third Rivers. “That one may haunt me for a little while,” Thomas sets NFL record NFL record he had shared with Andre Johnson and quarter on a five-yard scoring toss to tight end Josh Brees said. He appeared to have broken the record with seven Wes Welker. Hill, his third touchdown throw of the game. “I can think The Saints (10-3) have already clinched a playoff seconds remaining in the second quarter, but receiver Thomas entered with an NFL-best 121 catches this of no better guy to catch it than Josh,” Brees said. “He berth but needed the victory to join fellow National Tre’Quan Smith was penalized for offensive pass inter- season for a league-high 1,424 yards. He added 12 does a lot of the dirty work, blocking and catching.” Conference co-leaders Green Bay and Seattle on 11-3 ference for pushing off a defender’s back. The Saints catches for 128 yards against Indianapolis. He’s now 10 The record came for Brees on his 20th completion in atop the fight for home-field playoff advantage. Brees, settled for a 26-yard Wil Lutz field goal and a 20-0 shy of matching former Colt Marvin Harrison’s one- a row, which set a new career consecutive completions who turns 41 next month, would not ponder his place half-time lead. Brees completed 20-of-21 passes for season mark of 143 receptions from 2002 with two high for him and gave the Saints a 27-0 lead. Brees, among NFL immortals, his focus on adding another 230 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. games remaining. — AFP rematch of his first contest against Jason Knight. recent defeat. “What a journey this has been mate,” he think it does have a future,” he said. Former banker Last year, the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship said in an Instagram post. “What a journey this is! You “To prove that point, if you are in a park and people are (BKFC) held the first sanctioned bare-knuckle event in the blow me away bro, from the world tours to the ultimate playing basketball or football and then a fight breaks out, United States since 1889. Each fight comprises five two- fighter to this! You deserve the world and more my broth- what is everyone going to watch? The fight. Another thing Lobov knuckles minute rounds per fight and takes place in a circular, four- er! Congrats on another amazing fight!” as well — there are a lot of spectators who are unhappy as rope ring. Only established professionals in boxing, MMA, Lobov, who is still allowed to compete in MMA, says they find the grappling (in MMA) boring and there are a kickboxing, or Muay Thai are allowed to compete. bare-knuckle boxing is not more dangerous to a fighter’s lot of rounds in boxing which can make it drag out. Bare down to career as Fighters are not allowed to wrap their hands to within health than either MMA or boxing. “You need to examine knuckle takes care of all that. There is no grappling, with one-inch of the knuckle. “Honest to God I just love to my perspective,” he said. “When I look at it, boxing is only five rounds of two minutes. It is go, go, go, all-action, combat ace fight,” the Ireland-based Lobov told a rapt audience at the more dangerous. We fight for 10 minutes, they fight for 36 so definitely it has a future.” Betting on Sports Conference in London. “I was a banker, I minutes (12 rounds of three minutes), which provokes Lobov admits he has had to adapt to bare-knuckle have a Masters in finance and I was moving towards a suc- greater dehydration and affects the brain. It is a well-doc- boxing. “A few drinks every Saturday night and then go to LONDON: Artem Lobov could have been making money cessful banking career. My dream was to move to London umented fact when you are dehydrated your brain is more clubs,” he joked about his method of making the transition. trading in the financial markets. Instead he has opted to or New York and take it from there as a trader.” at risk when you take a head shot. For me it is questionable “You cannot spar bare knuckle so I learned only in my seek his fortune in bare-knuckle boxing. The 33-year-old However, he experienced a Damascene conversion whether a bare fist will cause as much damage as a bare first bout when your fists are bare and it gets bloody and Russian, a close friend and teammate of controversial Irish aged 21 when he first stepped into a ring. “I did not know elbow or knee or shin to the head — and trust me I have sweaty in the fight your fist does not close on impact, it Mixed Martial Arts star Conor McGregor, began his com- combat sports before that and it was love at first sight and taken a few bare shins to the head.” opens up. Every shot counts, every jab opens you up and petitive combat career in MMA but switched disciplines. the reason I do it,” he said. “I do not think about winning blood gets in your eyes. There are a lot more things to Lobov won his first two bouts, including one against or losing, I just want to fight. The fact I can make a living A bloody sport watch out for.” He makes no bones about where his future former boxing welterweight world champion Paulie out of it is brilliant.” Lobov is adamant that TV audiences will take to bare- lies. “They pay, I fight,” he said. “Whoever pays more, that Malignaggi. But he lost his third fight last month in a McGregor heralded Lobov as a “warrior” after his knuckle fighting despite the bloody spectacle. “I certainly is where I will be.” —AFP.