FRIDAY 24 MAY 2019 SPORT 17 Former captain I see Pakistan as one of the Shahid Afridi says FOOTBALL teams in the semi-finals and, FOOTBALL he is confident that Women’s International God willing, I’m confident Ligue 1: Nice vs Monaco; Pakistan will do well Friendly: Spain vs Canada they’ll play the final too. Nimes vs at the ICC World Cup. ACTION Lyon TODAY’S Thurman ready for Pacquiao fight AFP conference in Beverly Hills on changes. We’ll see who’s BEVERLY HILLS, US Wednesday, Thurman vowed young in the ring on July 20. to make the age difference “I don’t like trash-talking Keith Thurman vowed to count. before a fight. I’m going to let retire Philippine boxing legend “Pacquiao’s last fight, Pac- my fists do the talking.” Manny Pacquiao on quiao’s last fight,” Thurman Pacquiao plans to split his Wednesday as the two fighters said, while pledging to “dis- training camp between the traded verbal jabs ahead of the mantle” the 40-year-old Fil- Philippines and Los Angeles, World Boxing Association ipino icon. wrapping up his preparations battle for welterweight “I’m destroying the legend under the watchful eye of supremacy. of Manny Pacquiao,” Thurman long-time trainer Freddie The undefeated Thurman, said. Roach, who is back in his 30, takes on Pacquiao in Las “His legacy ends on July corner. Vegas on July 20 in a contest 20. He’s had a wonderful “Manny Pacquiao is the that pits the WBA’s “super career, and been an inspi- best fighter in the world to world champion” against the ration. We all love him and work with,” Roach said body’s secondary “world” respect him. And I’m respect- Wednesday. champion. fully going to kick the shit out “His work ethic is unbe- Thurman (29-0, with 22 of him. lievable. We’ve studied knockouts) returned from a “This is a big fight as far Thurman and come up with a near two-year lay-off to retain as the stage. But it’s a big fight game plan. And we’re going to his title with a 12-round against a little guy. I’ve dis- destroy him.” majority decision over Josesito mantled veterans in the past, Pacquiao meanwhile Lopez on January 26. and throughout my career. I Trainer Freddie Roach (left) shares a light moment with Manny insisted that his advancing Eight-division champion would have destroyed him five Pacquiao during a press conference on Wednesday. years had not diminished his Pacquiao, who last fought in years ago. enthusiasm or energy for a one-sided demolition of “He’s never fought a Pacquiao, who mixes a “All I can say is that most boxing. Keith Thurman Adrien Broner in January, is fighter like me with the lateral political career as a senator in of my opponents say things “At age 40, I feel like I’m poses during a 10 years older than his movement, speed, power. He’s the Philippines with profes- before a fight,” Pacquiao said. 29,” he said. “This is fun. I’m press conference American opponent. never fought anyone this sional boxing, laughed off “That’s what I hear from enjoying it. I’m excited to go on Wednesday. And as the two men came young, strong and hungry and Thurman’s threats of them - ‘I’m easy to beat’. But back to the Philippines and go face to face at a press I’m coming for him.” annihilation. when we get into the ring it straight back to the gym.” Tokyo 2020 IOC recommends suspending organisers welcome AIBA from next year’s Games IOC decision AFP replaced by the controversial LAUSANNE Boxing to stay at 2020 Olympics Uzbek businessman Gafur REUTERS Rakhimov, who the US TOKYO The International Olympic Treasury Department has Committee recommended that linked to “transnational Tokyo 2020 organisers amateur boxing’s governing criminal organisations”. welcomed yesterday the Inter- body be stripped of its right to Rakhimov, who stepped national Olympic Committee’s organise the event at Tokyo aside in March, vehemently recommendation to include 2020, but said the sport should rejects such charges and insists boxing at next year’s Games. still feature at the Games. the allegations against him are The IOC executive board rec- The guidance from the “politically motivated lies”. ommended on Wednesday that IOC’s executive board -- almost Bach said that because boxing should keep its place at certain to be rubber-stamped Rakhimov has been sanctioned the Tokyo Games but recognition by the full IOC membership by the US Treasury of AIBA, the governing body of next month -- followed a Department, dealing with AIBA the sport’s amateur version, months-long investigation into posed a “high risk... (for) should be suspended. alleged serious misman- anybody who is subject to US “Of course it is the most agement at the crisis-riddled jurisprudence.” important thing for the athletes International Boxing Associ- IOC President Thomas Bach attends Complications sur- who have been training and pre- ation (AIBA). a press conference on Wednesday rounding Rakhimov’s desig- paring for this,” said John Coates, The probe “speaks for in Pully, near Lausanne. nation by the US government the man entrusted by the IOC to itself,” IOC President Thomas “played a major role in the oversee the smooth running of Bach told reporters in deliberations of the inquiry the Games, following meetings Lausanne. commission,” Bach said. in Tokyo. He said the evidence details satisfactory progress,” in In ousting AIBA from tarnished in recent years as it Rakhimov was replaced as “(There is) obviously much “extremely serious issues” resolving its issues, the IOC said. the Tokyo Games but careened from crisis to crisis. interim president by Moroccan work to be done by Mr. Watan- within AIBA ranging from “defi- In a statement, AIBA said Relations between AIBA and doctor Mohamed Moustahsane abe’s committee but we have got ciencies” in governance, to lack that it had “taken note of the creating a new path the IOC took a sharp downward -- the fourth head of AIBA in 18 no doubt that with the cooper- of due diligence and conflicts announcement made by the for boxers to compete, turn following the 2016 Rio months. ation of the organising com- of interest. IOC” but refused to be drawn the IOC seeks to Games, when 36 officials and ref- Before the announcement, mittee we can meet the expec- In ousting AIBA from the on what it’s next move would ensure that athletes erees were suspended amid alle- AIBA’s leadership had insisted tations and dreams of all Tokyo Games but creating a be. “can live their dream gations of bout fixing. that the organisation had met athletes.” new path for boxers to compete, “AIBA is currently and participate in the An internal investigation by all the requirements stipulated The IOC has made gender the IOC was seeking to ensure reviewing the report from the AIBA raised deeper questions by the IOC. equality a priority leading into that athletes “can live their IOC and will not make any Olympic Games” while about the judging in Rio, with The governing body’s chief Tokyo 2020 yet at the last two dream and participate in the comments until further clarifi- making sure AIBA particular suspicion falling on executive Tom Virgets said Olympics there have been three Olympic Games” while making cation is made, however AIBA faces “the necessary a French official. earlier this month that the boxing medal events for women sure AIBA faced “the necessary does look forward to working consequences.” Then in 2017, AIBA execu- organisation had “done every- and 10 for men. consequences,” Bach said in a with the IOC in the future,” it tives forced out the body’s pres- thing that has been asked by the The 60-year-old Watanabe statement. said. ident C.K. Wu, amid claims of IOC”. said yesterday he understood the The IOC probe was led by Matthieu Reeb, Secretary decide to file one. Formed in multi-million dollar accounting “Every single document importance of gender equality audit firm Deloitte, and centred General of the Court of Arbi- 1946, AIBA has overseen fraud. asked, we produced, every but is still getting to grips with on subjects ranging from tration for Sport (CAS), said that decades of signature Olympic Wu, a Taiwanese national, single requirement we have the world of boxing. finances, governance and ethics “no appeal would be possible moments, notably the 1960 gold denied wrongdoing and met,” he said. “Gender equality is common to anti-doping, refereeing and until a final decision has been medal win in Rome by remains a member of the IOC, Addressing boxers hoping sense,” said Watanabe. “Sport is judging. made” but that the Olympic Muhammad Ali, then known as an indication that he retains the to compete in 2020, Bach just an element within that The probe determined that Charter enables the CAS to rule Cassius Clay. support of senior Olympic offi- vowed that “there will be an common sense.” AIBA has made “a lack of on an appeal should AIBA But its reputation has been cials. Wu was ultimately Olympic tournament in Tokyo.” Warriors’ owner ‘confident’ of keeping Thompson, Durant REUTERS NEW YORK midst of a nine-day break “We are not finished. I have Draymond Green to a contract number of other teams. His is playing chess years out. before the NBA Finals as they no new ideas or data for you. extension - likely are the team’s agent, Rich Kleiman said that “But when somebody gets Golden State Warriors owner await the winner of the Toronto We love Klay and KD and intend top priorities as they prepare to Durant is focused on returning to the level of basketball that Joe Lacob intends to re-sign Raptors-Milwaukee Bucks to attempt to re-sign them.