ARAB TIMES, MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2021 SPORTS 14 Basilashvili downs Bautista Agut to win Qatar Open Muguruza ends long wait, beats Krejcikova in Dubai fi nal DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 14, seven of the nine break points she faced to gles title, including two Grand Slam titles at ATP title. “I had zero expectations, for sure, to win (AP): Garbiñe Muguruza ended her almost beat Czech doubles specialist Krejcikova. Roland Garros in 2016 and Wimbledon in The Georgian earned the fi rst two break (the) tournament,” said Basilashvili, who has two-year wait for a title with a 7-6 (6), 6-3 It’s the 27-year-old Spanish player’s 2017. points at 3-2 in the second set, and he took now won his last four fi nals. win against Barbora Krejcikova in the fi nal first title since winning in Monterrey in Krejcikova’s only previous singles fi nal his chance before going on to close out the Bautista Agut ended Andrey Rublev’s title of the Dubai Championships. April 2019. Muguruza lost the Qatar Open was a 2017 loss to Kiki Bertens in Nurem- match in 90 minutes. “It means a lot,” the ninth-seeded Mugu- final last week to Petra Kvitova and the berg, Germany. Basilashvili had only won two matches defense in the semifi nals. ruza said, “it’s never easy to win.” Yarra Valley Classic final last month to In Doha, Qatar, Nikoloz Basilashvili from his previous 16 going into the tourna- “Hopefully I come back next year and try In her third attempt at a title this season, Ash Barty. downed Roberto Bautista Agut 7-6 (5), 6-2 ment, but he saved a match point to defeat to get the title again,” the 13th-ranked Span- the former No. 1 hit seven aces and saved Overall, it’s Muguruza’s eighth career sin- in the fi nal of the Qatar Open for his fourth Roger Federer in the quarterfi nals. ish player said. Cindric holds on in final restart, Boxing great Hagler dies Estrada pips Chocolatito by wins again at Phoenix Raceway split decision for unifi cation DALLAS, March 14, (AP): Juan Francisco Estrada beat Román “Chocolatito” González by split decision in a thrilling title unification fight Saturday night, defending his WBC super flyweight belt and claiming González’s WBA 115-pound belt. Estrada (42-3) avenged his loss to González in November 2012 by triumphing on two judg- es’ scorecards in a back-and-forth rematch. Es- trada hung on despite a phenomenal finish in the 12th round by González (50-3), who buck- led Estrada’s knees with a combination. Judge David Sutherland scored it 115-113 for Estrada, and Carlos Sucre favored Estrada 117-111. Judge Jesse Reyes scored the bout 115-113 for González. Some fans at the American Airlines Center booed Mexico’s Estrada as he celebrated a vic- tory over Nicaragua’s González. Estrada called for a third bout with González in his post-fight interview. Both fighters started at a high level and never let up during an intense matchup between two of the top lighter-weight fighters of recent years. With high-volume punching and impres- sive mid-fight strategy adjustments, Estrada and González kept up the entertainment until the final bell. In this June 1981 file photo, middleweight champion Marvin Hagler holds the champi- BOXING onship belt over his head after he defeated Vito Antuofermo in the fifth round of a box- ing bout at Boston Garden in Boston. (AP) When the fighters met eight years and four months ago, González retained his light fly- ing 62-3-2 with 52 knockouts. weight title with a unanimous decision victory. “If they cut my bald head open, they will Both have moved up two weight classes in the find one big boxing glove,’’ Hagler once said. interim. “That’s all I am. I live it.” Estrada improved to 16-1 since that loss to Hagler was unmistakable in the ring, fight- González. He claimed two flyweight belts in ing out of a southpaw stance with his bald head Daniel Hemric (18) and Harrison Burton (20) drive through Turn 4 during a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Phoenix Raceway, on his very next fight, and he won the WBC super glistening in the lights. He was relentless and March 13, in Avondale, Arizona. (AP) flyweight belt in 2019 with a victory over Sri- he was vicious, stopping opponent after oppo- saket Sor Rungvisai, the only man to beat him nent during an eight year run that began with a since 2012. disputed draw against Vito Antuofermo in 1979 Hemric settles for 2nd, Brown finishes 3rd Rungvisai also beat Chocolatito twice during that he later avenged. that stretch. The Thai veteran has rebounded He fought with a proverbial chip on his from his loss to Estrada with three straight shoulder, convinced that boxing fans and pro- wins, including a stoppage of Kwanthai Sith- moters alike didn’t give him his proper due. He AVONDALE, Arizona, March for the pass, but he got too close to the wall, 22-year-old was dominant in the fi rst stage, morseng after three rounds this weekend. was so upset that he wasn’t introduced before a 14, (AP): Austin Cindric used lost traction and Cindric was able to shoot leading all 45 laps. Rungvisai has said he would welcome a third 1982 fight by his nickname of Marvelous that by and win with room to spare. Allgaier fell Hemric started on the pole after fi nishing fight with the winner of the González-Estrada he went to court to legally change his name. a dominant performance and a to eighth, which was his fi rst top 10 of the in second at Las Vegas last weekend. He rematch. “He was certainly one of the greatest middle- good restart with two laps left season. had a good pit stop after the fi rst stage that Meanwhile, marvelous Marvin Hagler weights ever but one of the greatest people that for his second straight victory at “He just got a really great launch,” Cindric pushed him into the front of the fi eld and he stopped Thomas Hearns in a fight that lasted I’ve ever been around and promoted,’’ promot- Phoenix . said about Allgaier. “I think he anticipated parlayed that momentum into a second stage less than eight minutes yet was so epic that it er Bob Arum said. “He was a real man, loyal the restart really well and got to my outside. victory. still lives in boxing lore. Two years later he was and just fantastic person.’’ Cindric won again on the track where he Any doubts Hagler wasn’t indeed Marvel- He faked low and went high and had the mo- But Hemric’s Toyota got caught in traffi c so disgusted after losing a decision to Sugar captured his first NASCAR Xfinity Series mentum that was hard to block. I was trying Ray Leonard - stolen, he claimed, by the judges ous were erased on a spring night in 1985. He championship in November. on the fi nal restart and faded to 23th. He’s - that he never fought again. and Hearns met in one of the era’s big middle- to defend the bottom, middle and top. I got still looking for his fi rst Xfi nity series vic- He led 119 of 200 laps in the No. 22 Ford the air sucked off my door a little bit. It was One of the great middleweights in boxing weight clashes outdoors at Caesars Palace in and was never far from the front of the fi eld, tory. history, Hagler died Saturday at the age of Las Vegas and when the opening bell rang they just hard racing a little bit there.” Brandon Brown fi nished a third, a career but he had to survive a chaotic restart with a Cindric started third but jumped into the 66. His wife, Kay, announced his death on the traded punches for three minutes in an opening couple laps left for his second victory of the best and just his second career top fi ve. Riley Facebook page for Hagler’s fans. round many consider the best in boxing history. lead almost immediately, moving past pole Herbst was fourth. “I am sorry to make a very sad announce- Hagler would go on to stop Hearns in the season. sitter Daniel Hemric on the opening lap. The “They never come easy,” Cindric said. There were 11 cautions for 64 laps. ment,” she wrote. “Today unfortunately my be- third round, crumpling him to the canvas with “This is a really important track this season Brandon Jones was running up front with loved husband Marvelous Marvin passed away a barrage of punches even as blood poured and I am pumped for this team. Hopefully we the leaders in the fi rst stage but was penal- unexpectedly at his home here in New Hamp- out of a large gash on his forehead that nearly shire. Our family requests that you respect our caused the referee to stop the fight earlier in put on a great show there. We were ruining ized for speeding on pit road and had to start the second stage at the back of the fi eld. He privacy during this difficult time.” the round. each other there at the end.” Hagler fought on boxing’s biggest stages “When they stopped the fight to look at the Ty Gibbs, the 18-year-old who won in his made it back to the front of the fi eld but against its biggest names, as he, Leonard, cut, I realized they might be playing games and fi rst Xfi nity start on the road course at Day- crashed with about 30 laps left after getting Hearns and Roberto Duran dominated the mid- I wasn’t going to let them take the title away,” tona last month, was second after starting bumped from behind by AJ Allmendinger on dleweight classes during a golden time for box- Hagler said later.