SPORT MondayMonda 7 November 2016 PAGEPAGE | 282 PAGE | 28 GarethGareth BBale'sale Star LeBronron ddoubleouble liliftsf passes RRealeal MMadridadr Olajuwonn Filipinos cheer Manny Pacquiao (right) of the Philippines and Jessie Vargas trade punches during their Pacquiao's WBO welterweight championship fight at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on comeback win Saturday. Pacquiao reclaimed the World Boxing Organization welterweight title for Manila the third time with a unanimous Reuters decision victory. ilipinos in cinemas, res- taurants, and basketball Fcourts erupted into jubi- lation on Sunday as they watched boxing icon Manny Pacquiao scored a unanimous decision over Jessie Vargas to win the WBO welterweight title in Las Vegas. The 37-year-old Philip- pine senator put on a dazzling display in his return to the ring after a brief retirement, even fighting with more intensity and energy, and dominating the 27-year-old American in the final rounds to close out an emphatic victory. The presidential palace led the nation in sending a congratulatory message to Pacquiao, though it did not say if President Rodrigo Duterte, Pacquiao reclaims WBO title Pacquiao's political ally, watched the fight. But it did say "the courage and grit displayed by our Fil- Las Vegas The 37-year-old Pacquiao early on that he could counter Var- ipino boxers in Las Vegas are AFP systematically dismantled gas' left jab with a right to the jaw. Mayweather invitation the same qualities we must the former welterweight That's what happened in the sec- stirs speculation demonstrate as a nation to rid ilipino southpaw Manny champion despite Vargas' ond round when Pacquiao connected society of drugs, criminality Pacquiao reclaimed the size and reach advantage. on a right counterpunch that sent Var- and corruption." World Boxing Organization gas stumbling backwards and onto of second fight "Once again, Manny's tri- welterweight title for the the canvas. umph united and brought joy third time with a unanimous "Fighting Manny Pacquiao Pacquiao said he had to respect Las Vegas to our people and our nation," Fdecision victory over former cham- is like playing a very fast Vargas' punching power. AFP a statement issued by the pion Jesse Vargas in his comeback game of chess," Vargas "I'm very careful to go inside Office of the Communications fight on Saturday. said. because I knew he would counter me. anny Pacquiao showed he has still Secretary said. "The discipline, The 37-year-old Pacquiao sys- I felt I could do more but every round plenty of energy by dominating the determination, and the tematically dismantled the former I tried to knock him out," Pacquiao said. MJessie Vargas in a WBO title fight hard work of our People's welterweight champion despite Var- He then lost it last year to the now- Vargas started coming on in the on Saturday - and his rival Floyd May- Champ are truly what make gas' size and reach advantage. retired Floyd Mayweather, who had a middle rounds. His confidence grew weather was there to see it with a ringside him a National Treasure in He used a short right-handed front row seat for Saturday's bout. after a strong sixth round which turned seat. Global Sports." counterpunch to floor Vargas in the Pacquiao said he was retiring fol- out to be one of the few times he was Pacquiao, who turns 38 next month, During Pacquiao's fight, second round en route to a one-sided lowing his April 9 two-knockdown able to trade punches with Pacquiao. floored Vargas in the second round en streets in the Philippines were win in front of a crowd of 16,132 at victory over Bradley in their third He had a big smile on his face route to a one-sided victory which allowed deserted as his legions of fans the Thomas & Mack Center. fight. while walking back to his corner after him to reclaim the WBO welterweight title packed into cinemas, bars and "I feel happy," Pacquiao said. "I'm Pacquiao looked impressive in the bell to end the eighth. which both he and Mayweather held restaurants, and basketball trying every round to knock him stopping Bradley, showing that he has "Fighting Manny Pacquiao is like previously. courts to watch on big screens, down but also not be careless." recovered from a shoulder injury playing a very fast game of chess," It is a title that Pacquiao surrendered bringing the country to a vir- Pacquiao, 59-6 with two drawn which hampered him in his mega fight Vargas said. "You have to be alert at when he lost last year to Mayweather in tual standstill. and 38 knockouts, showed he still has against Mayweather in May 2015. all times. He was very fast but I was the richest fight in boxing history. Troops in army bases also a lot left in the tank but he failed to Pacquiao took seven months off able to get in a few counters." The retired Mayweather's appearance watched how Pacquiao, an get the knockout victory that has to concentrate on his job as a newly Las Vegas boxing fans showed at ringside Saturday, at Pacquiao's request, army reservist, beat the much eluded him for the past seven years. elected politician in the Philippine their love for Pacquiao. Even with a will certainly stir talk of a Pacquiao-May- younger Vargas. All three judges scored the bout Senate. After serving his first stint as hometown boxer in the ring, the weather 2. "Army Lt. Col. Manny Pac- for Pacquiao, two of them by 118-109 a rookie senator, he says the fire was crowd was chanting his name and "Yes I invited him to come tonight," quiao of the Reserve Force has and the other by 114-113. rekindled and the stage set for a cheering for Pacquiao to get the Pacquiao said of Mayweather. truly been a source of inspi- Pacquiao won the WBO title for return to boxing. knockout. Asked if he wanted a rematch with ration, not only to our troops, the first time in 2010 when he beat On Saturday, both fighters felt The two fighters traded heavy Mayweather, Pacquiao said, "We will see." but also to our organization Miguel Cotto. He lost it two years later each other out as very few punches blows in the eighth round as Vargas' "Mayweather is retired. As far as we're (that) aspires to be a world- to Timothy Bradley, then got it back were thrown in the first round. face started to show some of the dam- concerned he's retired and we respect class Army by 2028," said Col. by winning the rematch with Brad- Pacquiao was quicker to size up age from Pacquiao's potent right that," Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum said. Benjamin Hao, Philippine ley in 2014. his opponent as the Filipino learned hand. Army spokesman. Fossati names squad ahead of Russia friendly Qatar Olympic team The Peninsula set for Oman friendly atar coach Jorge Fossati has named the national squad for Q two games later this month. The Peninsula QATAR U-23 SQUAD Qatar host Russia on November 10 Yusuf Hassan, Mohammed Saeed, Jassim Mo- before flying out to China for their 2018 he Qatar Olympic squad hammed, Abdul Aziz, Hossam Kamal, Abdul FIFA World Cup qualifying game on will play a friendly against Rahman, Sultan Hussein, Ahmed Moeen, Omar November 15. T neighbouring Oman, the Al-Emadi, Abdul Rauf Hussein, Moiz Ali, Salah The Uruguayan tactician, named game's ruling body announced Alawi, Ahmed Al-Saadi, Mishal al-Shammari, coach in September, has included yesterday. Jassim Algelabi, Saleh Lehri, Hani Yusuf, Jassim Sebastian Soria but ignored Meshal The friendly will be played Ali Al-Shammari, Abdul Hamid, Saeed Brahmi, Abdullah in his squad. on November 15, Qatar Foot- ball Association (QFA) Ali Awad, Adel Alawi, Abdul Aziz, Faisal Ghu- QATAR SQUAD confirmed. laam, Hatem Kamal, Asim Madibo and Tamim Almuhaize. Coach: Sanchez Felix Saad Al Sheeb, Mohammed Kasola, Ibrahim Maged, Pedro The friendly has been Miguel, Hassan Al Haydos, Ali Asad, Hamid Ismail, Salem Al scheduled to give the squad Hajri, Saud Al Hajri, Musa Haron, Rodrigo Tabata, Sebastian match practice ahead of the guiding the national side to win Soria, Ahmed Alaa, Karim Boudiaf, Ali Afif, Mohamed Musa, U-23 Asian Cup qualifying at the AFC U-20 Asian Cup in Luis Martin, Khalifa Abubakr, Yasser Abubakr, Magid Mo- stage. Coached by Sanchez Myamar in October 2014. hammed, Khoukhi Bualem, Ahmed Abdul Maqsood, Felix, the Qatar squad has been In June last year, Sanchez Ahmed Saleh Khalfan, Al Mahdi Ali, Abdulaziz Hatem, in training for sometime. took the side to the FIFA U-20 Akram Afif and Fahad Shanin. Coach: Jorge Fossati Qatari football players in action during a training session. Sanchez has been with the World Cup held in New squad for more than two years, Zealand. SPORT MONDAY 7 NOVEMBER 2016 27 All Blacks fans hail men in green Wellington AFP ather than mourn the end of the All Blacks' Rworld-record winning run on Sunday, New Zealand- ers backed coach Steve Hansen's analysis that Ireland deserved their historic 40-29 victory in Chicago. "The right side won... Jack McGrath of Ireland celebrates following his team's 40-29 we're not going to make any victory over New Zealand at Soldier Field in Chicago, United excuses," Hansen declared as States on Saturday. Top: Rory Best of Ireland celebrates his the New Zealand news media team's victory. and callers to talk radio voiced agreement. "Magnificent men in green: Ireland make history," trumpeted the New Zealand Ireland register stunning win Herald.