LONDON: As fight fans across the Gulf look forward to the scrap that everyone is talking about, Arab News gets in the ring with two Dubai coaches — one a boxer, the other from the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) — to get the lowdown.
Saturday night will either see a great battle between two fighting icons or a desperate and demeaning duel, a pantomime created for pay-per-view excess.
Whatever happens, one thing is clear: The Floyd Mayweather versus Connor McGregor bout does not allow for fence-sitting.
Former undisputed world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis is just one boxer who says Saturday’s bout is a farce: “There’s tremendous build-up and hype, but I don’t really take it as a serious fight.
“I wouldn’t count a fight like this as a ‘fight.’ He’s basically boxing a guy who is a UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) fighter and not a boxer.
“No other boxers from 49 fights have figured out how to beat Mayweather. Now a UFC fighter who doesn’t even have a boxing career is trying to beat him at boxing — I think it’s a farce to a certain degree.”
The sight of boxing in the gutter is not new — think Mike Tyson biting Evander Holyfield’s ear, and any number of swear-laden, pre-fight press conferences. But this fight has, for some, dealt a right hook to a sport that was still basking in the glow of Anthony Joshua’s enthralling win over Wladimir Klitschko.
The sight of Mayweather coming out of retirement to fight an MMA fighter, a boxing novice, for a huge payday, one he does not need (Forbes estimates his net worth at $340 million), only adds to the view that as good a boxer as he is, this match-up is one both he and boxing could do without.
Is the fight a farce?
MMA fans are less inclined to call out the bout as a joke. “Boxing is a huge sport before MMA, which is catching up. I’m a huge fan of McGregor, but he’s up against a great boxer,” said coach Dante Macawile from TK MMA Fitness in Dubai.
“McGregor is an energetic fighter, whereas Mayweather is a strategic and talented defensive boxer. I think it could be good.”
But boxers seem less inclined to view it as a sporting spectacle, and more as a bit of money-making entertainment.
“I think this fight is about putting on a show,” said Nick Mwangi, trainer at Dubai’s Round 10 Gym.
“It’s basically a payday for them. It’s more about the money than it is a proper fight. People are interested in it because they’re curious about what will happen, about what the fight will look like.”
Who will win?
This being a boxing fight, with boxing rules and not the mayhem of an MMA cage, both agree that anyone expecting a shock McGregor win should think again.
“McGregor is a good MMA fighter, but he’s in a boxing ring, not an MMA cage, and he’s fighting Mayweather under boxing rules,” Mwangi said. “No boxer has beaten him before so, I can’t see McGregor doing it.”
Macawile echoed that view: “I’m a huge fan of McGregor, but he’s up against a great boxer. Mayweather will win.”
In which round?
This is where it is obvious whether you are cynical about the fight or not. Mwangi certainly is: “Mayweather will be patient then show McGregor who’s boss and who’s king of the ring in the third round.
“He’ll know a lot of people have paid money for the fight, so I think he’ll end it in the fifth or sixth.”
The MMA trainer agreed with his boxing counterpart, but not for the same reasons: “I can see this fight ending with a Mayweather win in the fifth, maybe.”
Will you watch it?
Once again the answers are the same: Of course they will, but the reasons for staying awake or getting up early (depending on whether you are a morning person or a night owl) are very different.
“There’s little doubt this is about the money. They’ll both make a lot of money through the pay-per-view sales,” Macawile said. “I’m going to get up early and watch it at home. I’ve paid for the pay-per-view.”
But for boxers, the fight is a mere sideshow to the undercard, which for them involves proper bouts.
“I’ll watch it, but I’m far more interested in the undercard than I am the Mayweather versus McGregor fight. I think that’s how a lot of boxing fans will view it. They’ll all be keen to see fights like Gervonta Davis versus Francisco Fonseca before it,” Mwangi said.
“We’re showing it at the gym, and the people who come here are going to be more keen to watch the earlier fights.
“People are curious about the Mayweather versus McGregor fight, but they’re not too fussed about it.”
Gulf fight fans reveal predictions for Mayweather vs. McGregor
Gulf fight fans reveal predictions for Mayweather vs. McGregor
Australia set sights on world domination after taming India
- Australia surged into June showdown against South Africa after six-wicket win over India on Sunday
- South Africa booked their spot under WTC’s average points system when they beat Pakistan last month
SYDNEY: Cricket’s World Test Championship final is still five months away but it is already playing on the mind of Australia skipper Pat Cummins, saying the defense of their title is “a huge goal” after conquering India.
Australia surged into a June showdown against South Africa at Lord’s with a six-wicket victory in the fifth Test against India in Sydney on Sunday.
The thrilling win sealed a first series triumph against their South Asian rivals in a decade.
It also confirmed their place in a clash against South Africa that will determine the world’s most consistent red-ball side over the last two years from the nine teams contesting the WTC.
“To hold the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is an amazing feeling, and the extra layer is now securing a spot again in the World Test Championship final, which was always a huge goal for us in this cycle,” Cummins said.
“We talk about the World Test Championship a lot. It’s a trophy we’re really proud to hold so we want to go back and defend it.
“I think it’s a great tournament in that you’ve got to play well consistently and across all different conditions against different teams.
“We can’t wait to get over there.”
South Africa booked their spot under the WTC’s average points system when they beat Pakistan in a dramatic two-wicket win at Centurion late last month.
Australia play two Tests in Sri Lanka starting later this month before a lengthy red-ball break heading into the WTC final.
Cummins appears likely to miss the Sri Lanka tour for the birth of his second child, with Steve Smith in pole position to take over as captain.
But the Australian skipper is adamant that after four year in the role, he has no plans to hand over the armband permanently anytime soon.
“First of all, I absolutely love what I do. That’s the biggest driver in wanting to play Test cricket and work with this team and support staff,” Cummins said.
“I absolutely love everything about it, it’s that much fun. If I can keep doing it for a while, even better.”
Cricket Australia meanwhile said nearly 838,000 spectators attended the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, despite two matches ending within three days.
The numbers were boosted by the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne going all five days, with a record 373,691 people turning out across the match.
Dembélé scores last-gasp winner as PSG wins Champions Trophy
- The match was played at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar, with PSG owned by Qatar-based QSI since 2011
PARIS: Ousmane Dembélé scored a stoppage-time winner as Paris Saint-Germain beat Monaco 1-0 to win the Champions Trophy on Sunday.
The France winger was unmarked at the back post to meet a low cross from the left by Fabian Ruiz in the second minute of added time.
PSG won the trophy, also known as the super cup, for the third straight time and a record-extending 13th overall. PSG won the league and cup double last season, with Monaco finishing second in the league.
The match was played at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar, with PSG owned by Qatar-based QSI since 2011.
Désiré Doué hit the crossbar early on for PSG and Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Köhn made several saves.
Monaco improved after the break and hit the post through Eliesse Ben Seghir and Brazilian defender Vanderson.
Although Köhn made a fine save to deny Achraf Hakimi in the 74th minute, he failed to properly read Ruiz’s cross and Monaco missed out on winning the trophy for the first time since 2000.
Later Sunday, Marseille looked to strengthen its grip on second place in Ligue 1 with a home win against lowly Le Havre.
French league
Marseille looks to strengthen its grip on second place in Ligue 1 with a home win against lowly Le Havre later Sunday.
Toulouse climbed up to eighth place with a 1-0 win at seventh-place Lens, which leads Toulouse on goal difference.
Striker Zakaria Aboukhlal scored a penalty in the 73rd.
The goal came shortly after Lens midfielder David Pereira da Costa was shown a second yellow card following a video review and was sent off.
Angers beat Brest 2-0, and Strasbourg rallied to win 3-1 at home to Auxerre and move into 10th spot.
Esteban Lepaul scored early on for Angers and fellow striker Ibrahima Niane, who replaced Lepaul in the 75th, wrapped up the win in stoppage time.
Strasbourg’s goals came from captain Habib Diarra, Félix Lemarechal and forward Emanuel Emegha, after Hamed Traore gave Burgundy side Auxerre an early lead in Alsace.
Gauff inspires Team USA to United Cup triumph
- Gauff opened with a statement 6-4, 6-4 win over Swiatek in 1hr 51min of hard-hitting tennis to fire a warning shot ahead of the Australian Open
SYDNEY: Coco Gauff roared past Iga Swiatek to inspire Team USA on Sunday before Taylor Fritz sealed the United Cup title with victory over Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz in Sydney.
Gauff opened with a statement 6-4, 6-4 win over Swiatek in 1hr 51min of hard-hitting tennis to fire a warning shot ahead of the Australian Open.
Big-serving Fritz then battled through against Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (7/4) to spark wild celebrations as the Americans won the mixed-teams cup for the second time in three years after winning the inaugural event in 2023.
For Poland it meant falling at the final hurdle again after losing to Germany 12 months ago.
Gauff set the ball rolling with a second victory in a row over Swiatek after beating the former world No. 1 at the WTA Finals in Riyadh on her way to the title.
Gauff had won all six of her previous singles and doubles matches this week and continued her streak when Swiatek double-faulted on match point at 4-5, 30-40 in the second set. “I have the belief that I am one of the best players in the world, and when I play good tennis, it’s hard for me to be beaten,” said Gauff, who won the award as player of the tournament.
The 20-year-old will go into the first Grand Slam of the year next Sunday unbeaten in singles since losing to World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the Wuhan semifinals in October, and brimming with confidence. “Today I think I played great tennis, and I’m happy to get a point,” she said. “It was tough today. I’m not gonna lie.”
Gauff’s victory left the US one win away from lifting the title for the second time, and Fritz delivered after edging a third-set tiebreak to seal a tense encounter.
“It’s been a great week,” said Fritz. “They’re an incredibly tough team and the margins are very small,” he added after a serve-dominated match that featured 30 aces and just three break points.
“I feel like it could have always gone either way. Just want to say thanks to my whole team.”
Earlier, Swiatek took a medical timeout at 5-4 down in the second set to have strapping put on her niggling left thigh which has bothered her all week in Sydney.
After losing to Gauff, Swiatek left the court in tears, walking gingerly, but returned laughing and joking during the trophy presentations.
Red-hot Gauff, who did not drop a set in five singles matches, goes into the Australian Open as world number three.
She enjoyed United Cup singles wins over Leylah Fernandez, Donna Vekic, Zhang Shuai, Karolina Muchova and Swiatek.
Fritz, who is at career-best number four in the rankings, dropped his opening United Cup match to Felix Auger-Aliassime but then won four straight.
Dakar Rally defending champion Sainz flips in dunes, is an hour off lead
- Sainz was within five minutes of the leaders after more than 200 kilometers, but his Ford Raptor turned upside down in the dunes at 327 kilometers
BISHA, Saudi Arabia: Defending champion Carlos Sainz was nearly an hour off the pace in the Dakar Rally after his car flipped in the Saudi Arabia dunes on Sunday.
Local driver Yazeed Al Rajhi led the race at the mandatory evening rest stop north of Bisha on the nearly 1,000-kilometer second stage, which started early Sunday and finishes late Monday.
But his lead was only 79 seconds over five-time champion Nasser Al-Attiyah.
Sainz was within five minutes of the leaders after more than 200 kilometers, but his Ford Raptor turned upside down in the dunes at 327 kilometers. Teammate Mitch Guthrie helped Sainz right the car after 20 minutes but broken rear parts were left behind and Sainz limped to the rest area at 620 kilometers, more than 59 minutes behind.
Another title contender who suffered was Sebastien Loeb, who won this stage last year. The Frenchman broke down with fan issues at 409 kilometers and arrived more than 32 minutes back.
Al-Attiyah led Al Rajhi by four minutes in the early going but Al Rajhi turned the tables about 350 kilometers in and held on.
Sweden’s Mattias Ekstrom was running third, nine minutes back. He was the only driver within 10 minutes of Al Rajhi.
First stage winner Seth Quintero was 48 minutes back.
Australian rider Daniel Sanders continued to set the pace in the motorbike class, even after starting at the back from winning the first stage.
Racing a different course to the cars, Sanders was only 40 seconds ahead of American titleholder Ricky Brabec.
Ross Branch, second last year, lost some time but was still third.
The 48-hour chrono stage was introduced last year, sending racers into the desert overnight with minimal team help. What organizers call “the quintessential rally-raid experience” was the stage in which Al Rajhi’s car somersaulted and he was forced to abandon the 2024 race.
The stage resumes at dawn on Monday.
Manchester United hold Liverpool in Premier League thriller to end losing streak
- United broke their six-year goal drought at Anfield to open the scoring in spectacular fashion through Lisandro Martinez
- Liverpool boss Slot warned that United were “much better” than their shocking league position suggested
LIVERPOOL: Manchester United rallied to snap a four-game losing streak and halt Liverpool’s romp toward the Premier League title in a thrilling 2-2 draw at Anfield on Sunday.
Liverpool move six points clear at the top of the table, with a game in hand to come, over second-placed Arsenal.
But this was an opportunity lost for Arne Slot’s men after they came from behind to lead 2-1 through Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah’s penalty.
United broke their six-year goal drought at Anfield to open the scoring in spectacular fashion through Lisandro Martinez and got the point a much-improved performance deserved when Amad Diallo levelled on 80 minutes.
A point edges the Red Devils up to 13th in the table and seven clear of the relegation zone.
Liverpool boss Slot warned that United were “much better” than their shocking league position suggested ahead of the game and so it proved.
United had been carved open at will by Newcastle in a dismal 2-0 defeat on Monday that left manager Ruben Amorim declaring they were in a relegation battle.
Amorim’s hand was strengthened by the return of captain Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte from suspension, while Kobbie Mainoo also returned to the starting line-up.
The Portuguese’s plan to frustrate Liverpool worked but the home side did have the chances early on to make the breakthrough.
Gakpo prodded past the far post from Ryan Gravenberch’s through ball.
Moments later Salah picked out Alexis Mac Allister with a sumptuous pass that the Argentine caught flush and forced Andre Onana into a fine save with his feet.
United took time to begin to impose themselves as an attacking threat but should have been in front before the break.
Diallo miscued his header with the goal gaping from Diogo Dalot’s cross.
Rasmus Hojlund then had the best chance of the first half when he raced in behind the Liverpool defense but could not beat Alisson Becker.
However, confidence was suddenly coursing back into United players who have looked bereft in recent weeks.
The visitors’ breakthrough came from an unlikely source as Martinez showed his strikers how to finish with a blistering hit in off the underside of the bar for just his second goal for the club.
The Anfield crowd were beginning to get restless as the league leaders were briefly at sixes and sevens.
However, Liverpool’s position at the top of the table owes much to the depth of firepower they possess.
Even on a quiet day for Salah, they had an in-form forward to come up with the moment of magic required to turn the game.
Gakpo turned inside his Dutch international colleague Matthijs de Ligt and blasted high past Onana for his 10th goal in 15 games on the hour mark.
Despite the equalizer Slot immediately made two offensive changes, as Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez were introduced, and got his reward.
MacAllister’s header flicked off De Ligt’s outstretched arm inside the penalty area and a VAR review resulted in the awarding of a spot-kick.
Salah smashed low and hard beyond Onana for his 18th Premier League goal in 19 games.
However, United’s spirited display got the point it merited to halt an alarming losing streak for Amorim so early in his reign.
Alejandro Garnacho’s attitude has been questioned by his new boss but the Argentine came off the bench to make the equalizer as his low cross was turned in by Diallo.
And it should have been even better for United when Harry Maguire spooned Joshua Zirkzee’s pass over the bar with the goal gaping deep into stoppage time.
