By Steven Lynch, ESPN
Andy Murray has now lost in three Grand Slam singles finals. Has anyone ever lost in more without winning one? asked Pete Thomas
Andy Murray is currently one of six men who have played in three Grand Slam singles finals and lost the lot: the only one of the others who did so since the Second World War was the South African Eric Sturgess. The others were Frank Riseley, Frank Hunter, Harry Hopman and Bunny Austin. There are three women - Elizabeth "Bunny" Ryan, Jan Lehane and Helena Sukova - who played in four finals without winning one. But Andy Murray shouldn't get too depressed just yet: the affable Australian Fred Stolle lost in five straight Grand Slam singles finals before finally winning in France in 1965, while Ivan Lendl, Jaroslav Drobny and Herbert Lawford all lost four before finally landing a major title.
Who is the only man to play in five successive Super Bowls? asked Richard Bartlett via Facebook
The only man to do this was Gale Gilbert, a quarterback who played for the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowls XXV to XXVIII (1991-94) and also for the San Diego Chargers in 1995. The bad news is that poor Gilbert lost on all five occasions! The only man to be on the winning side in five Super Bowls was Charles Haley, but his victories - for the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys - did not come in consecutive years.
Which boxer has won world titles at the most different weights? asked Colin Reed
Manny Pacquiao has been recognised as a world champion at no fewer than eight different weights, which is unprecedented. Pacquiao's first title came in December 1998, not long before his 20th birthday, when he won the WBC flyweight belt. Since then he's lifted the IBF super-bantamweight crown (2001), The Ring's linear featherweight title (beating Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003), the WBC super-featherweight title (2008), the WBC lightweight crown (2008), The Ring light-welterweight title (defeating Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas in 2009), the WBO welterweight belt (2009), and most recently - in November 2010 - the WBC light-middleweight title, thanks to with a victory over Antonio Margarito. Just in case he didn't have enough on his plate, last year Pacquiao was elected as a congressman in the Philippines.
Which teams have won and lost the most matches in a regular Football League season? asked Michael Morrison
Rather remarkably, the same team holds both these records. In 1946-47 Doncaster Rovers won 33 of their 42 matches in the Third Division North. But in 1997-98 they finished bottom of Division Three (the old Fourth Division) after losing 34 of their 46 matches. Doncaster lost their league status after that, only regaining it in time for the 2003-04 season. They were promoted after their first season back, and are now in the Championship (the second tier of English league football).
Who has played the most matches in the Ryder Cup, and has anyone got a perfect winning record? asked Simeon Bragg
Sir Nick Faldo holds the overall record for playing in the most different Ryder Cups - he took part in 11 as a player between 1977 and 1997. The American record is eight, by Billy Casper, Ray Floyd, Phil Mickelson and Lanny Wadkins. Faldo, with 46, has played the most individual matches, ahead of Bernhard Langer (42), Neil Coles (40), Seve Ballesteros and Billy Casper (both 37). As for the best winning record, the only man to have played six matches in Ryder Cups and won all six was the colourful American golfer Jimmy Demaret, who took part in 1947, 1949 and 1951.
Has anyone ever won the 100, 200 and 400 metres at the Olympic Games? And has anyone ever been in all three finals at the same Olympics? asked Alex McDonald
The answers here are yes, and no. The Australian "Golden Girl" Betty Cuthbert did the sprint (100/200m) double at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956, and eight years later in Tokyo completed her set by winning the 400 metres, just ahead of the favourite Ann Packer (who went on to win the 800m, an event she had only rarely tried before). The great Polish runner Irena Szewinska almost emulated Cuthbert, with bronze in the 100m in 1968, gold in the 200m in 1968, and gold in the 400m in 1976. A few other women have reached all three finals: I think the most recent one was Kathy Cook of Great Britain in 1980 (100m) and 1984 (200 and 400m). But no-one - not even Cuthbert - has reached all three finals in the same year. The only man who has ever been in all three finals is the versatile Jamaican Herb McKenley, who was second in the 100 and 400m in Helsinki in 1952, and fourth in the 200m in London in 1948 (he won another silver in the 400m that year too). McKenley did finally get his hands on a gold medal, when the Jamaican team won the 4x400m relay at Helsinki.
Source: espn.co.uk
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Hatton hampered by weight limit as Alvarez becomes an even heavier favourite -- Daily Mail
By Jeff Powell, Daily Mail
The going in America was always going to be tough for Matthew Hatton and now it looks like getting even tougher come Saturday night.
The WBC are expected to insist that Hatton's fight with Mexican hot-shot Saul Alvarez for their vacant world title is made at the full light-middleweight limit of 154 lbs.
Ricky the Hitman's younger brother, who has been campaigning at welterweight, has been preparing for a catchweight contest at 150 lbs.
But the WBC were widely criticised for approving an identical compromise when Manny Pacquiao moved up to win a world title in an unprecedented eighth division by massively outpointing two-time light-middleweight champion Antonio Margarito.
When Pacquiao, having reinforced his status as the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet, relinquished that belt so as to return to middleweight there was a delay before the WBC agreed to sanction Alvarez v Hatton for the championship.
It is believed they were seeking confirmation that this would be an authentic light-middleweight battle.
That - plus a decision by Golden Boy promotions to bring this Friday's weigh-in forward from mid-afternoon to noon - threatens to give Alvarez a substantial advantage in poundage by the time they enter the ring at the Honda Centre in Anaheim, California almost a day and a half later.
Alvarez, a natural light-middleweight, has been the heavy (in every sense) favourite since pen was put to paper for a fight originally conceived as a final eliminator for the world title.
The 20-year-old, undefeated and unusually red-haired Mexican is being fast-tracked to stardom by Golden Boy.
But Hatton, at nine years the older, has always believed he could make his extra experience count.
To his considerable credit, he still does, even though not only the stakes but probably the weight are being raised.
Hatton the Younger said from the start that he would not let the difference of a few pounds deter him or affect the fight.
Now those few pounds look like becoming half a stone......and rising. Even so - and although he acknowledges the prodigious talent which has already made Alvarez a celebrity south of the Mexican border and an eye-catcher in America - he remains confident of pulling off the upset.
That gritty determination is typical of the fight family Hatton. This is the kind of against-the-odds challenge which the Manchester Hitman always relished - and so often overcame before time and Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Pacquiao caught up with him.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
The going in America was always going to be tough for Matthew Hatton and now it looks like getting even tougher come Saturday night.
The WBC are expected to insist that Hatton's fight with Mexican hot-shot Saul Alvarez for their vacant world title is made at the full light-middleweight limit of 154 lbs.
Ricky the Hitman's younger brother, who has been campaigning at welterweight, has been preparing for a catchweight contest at 150 lbs.
But the WBC were widely criticised for approving an identical compromise when Manny Pacquiao moved up to win a world title in an unprecedented eighth division by massively outpointing two-time light-middleweight champion Antonio Margarito.
When Pacquiao, having reinforced his status as the best pound-for-pound boxer on the planet, relinquished that belt so as to return to middleweight there was a delay before the WBC agreed to sanction Alvarez v Hatton for the championship.
It is believed they were seeking confirmation that this would be an authentic light-middleweight battle.
That - plus a decision by Golden Boy promotions to bring this Friday's weigh-in forward from mid-afternoon to noon - threatens to give Alvarez a substantial advantage in poundage by the time they enter the ring at the Honda Centre in Anaheim, California almost a day and a half later.
Alvarez, a natural light-middleweight, has been the heavy (in every sense) favourite since pen was put to paper for a fight originally conceived as a final eliminator for the world title.
The 20-year-old, undefeated and unusually red-haired Mexican is being fast-tracked to stardom by Golden Boy.
But Hatton, at nine years the older, has always believed he could make his extra experience count.
To his considerable credit, he still does, even though not only the stakes but probably the weight are being raised.
Hatton the Younger said from the start that he would not let the difference of a few pounds deter him or affect the fight.
Now those few pounds look like becoming half a stone......and rising. Even so - and although he acknowledges the prodigious talent which has already made Alvarez a celebrity south of the Mexican border and an eye-catcher in America - he remains confident of pulling off the upset.
That gritty determination is typical of the fight family Hatton. This is the kind of against-the-odds challenge which the Manchester Hitman always relished - and so often overcame before time and Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Pacquiao caught up with him.
Source: dailymail.co.uk
Don't Saddle Donaire With Being The Next Pacquiao -- The Sweet Science
By Frank Lotierzo, The Sweet Science
Well, there just may be another fighter who's on his way to becoming must see. His name is Nonito Donaire 26-1 (18). Last weekend he scored a sensational second round knockout over a legitimate upper-tier world class bantamweight champion in Fernando Montiel 44-3-2 (34). Donaire's destruction of Montiel was purposeful, methodical and explosive. When Donaire's counter left-hook exploded on Montiel's temple, it was a forgone conclusion that the fight was over. To Montiel's credit, he summoned great reserve and courage when he managed to beat the count before he was met by Donaire's finishing left-hook and right hand forcing referee Russell Mora to stop the fight.
Immediately after the fight, former multi-division champ Roy Jones, who was working as a color analyst on HBO for the fight said, "Donaire, has to be considered one of the top three pound-for-pound fighters in boxing if you still consider Floyd Mayweather an active fighter." And last week Ring Magazine released their list of the top-10 pound-for-pound fighters in boxing, and Nonito Donaire is slotted at number three after Pacquiao and Mayweather.
Since Donaire's signature left-hook relieved Montiel of his two bantamweight titles, he's become the next must see fighter in boxing, and for good reason, he can fight. Donaire's showing and overnight stardom is another undeniable layer of proof that boxing, at its best, is still the most exciting and thrilling sport of all to watch. With all the things that are currently an anchor around boxing and trying to keep it down, an explosive fighter who can consistently deliver exciting fights against the best boxing has to offer, can't be held down. And based on his overall body of work, Nonito Donaire appears to be the real deal.
There's only one foreseeable problem on the horizon for Donaire that might hurt him down the road. And it's something that he has no control over but will no doubt be a victim of, and that's the inevitable comparisons to Manny Pacquiao that he'll be saddled with based on the fact that he's an excellent Philippine fighter. We've seen this in the past and it's never fair to the fighter or athlete who's on the way up and making a name for himself. As great as former heavyweight champ Larry Holmes was, he never lived up to being the next Muhammad Ali. Roy Jones wasn't the next Sugar Ray Robinson and Floyd Mayweather, aside from being undefeated, wasn't the next Roy Jones when it came to his skill set and accomplishments.
So it would be best for Nonito Donaire and the sport of professional boxing if the bar being set for him is not him having to be the next Manny Pacquiao. Not only is it not realistic, but it's not fair. First, it puts pressure on him to be something he's not. Second, it doesn't take into account how fundamentally different Donaire is from Pacquiao stylistically.
Right now WBC/WBO bantamweight champ Nonito Donaire is must see. He's lucky to be fighting in a division that's loaded with some great match ups for him to the north and south of it. Mark my words, he's not going to win every one of his future bouts in the same fashion he did against Fernando Montiel. However, from what we've seen he'll be doing his best to do so. He's got dynamite in his left hand and is a great counter-puncher who can fight outside, which makes him very dangerous as we just saw.
It's great that two of the top three or four fighters in boxing are Philippine. But aside from both of them bursting onto the scene with sensational second round knockouts (Pacquiao KO 2 Hatton) that's really all they share. Donaire is not the next Pacquiao, but he is the real deal, so let's enjoy watching him fight as long as he's around and fighting at the highest level.
Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com
Source: thesweetscience.com
Boxing is dead! Boxing is dead! Yep, that's what boxing fans have been hearing for the better part of the last couple years. And in fairness, these aren't the best of times for amateur and professional boxing. Yet, if Manny Pacquiao
and Floyd Mayweather actually negotiated like adults and agreed to terms for a legitimate welterweight title bout, outside of this month's Super Bowl between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, it would be the most widely covered and watched sporting event of the year. In addition to that, a professional boxer (Manny Pacquiao) is still one of the five biggest stars in sports. The only problem is there's just not enough world class fighters who capture the public's imagination like Pacquiao, and Floyd Mayweather to a lesser degree.
and Floyd Mayweather actually negotiated like adults and agreed to terms for a legitimate welterweight title bout, outside of this month's Super Bowl between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, it would be the most widely covered and watched sporting event of the year. In addition to that, a professional boxer (Manny Pacquiao) is still one of the five biggest stars in sports. The only problem is there's just not enough world class fighters who capture the public's imagination like Pacquiao, and Floyd Mayweather to a lesser degree.Well, there just may be another fighter who's on his way to becoming must see. His name is Nonito Donaire 26-1 (18). Last weekend he scored a sensational second round knockout over a legitimate upper-tier world class bantamweight champion in Fernando Montiel 44-3-2 (34). Donaire's destruction of Montiel was purposeful, methodical and explosive. When Donaire's counter left-hook exploded on Montiel's temple, it was a forgone conclusion that the fight was over. To Montiel's credit, he summoned great reserve and courage when he managed to beat the count before he was met by Donaire's finishing left-hook and right hand forcing referee Russell Mora to stop the fight. Immediately after the fight, former multi-division champ Roy Jones, who was working as a color analyst on HBO for the fight said, "Donaire, has to be considered one of the top three pound-for-pound fighters in boxing if you still consider Floyd Mayweather an active fighter." And last week Ring Magazine released their list of the top-10 pound-for-pound fighters in boxing, and Nonito Donaire is slotted at number three after Pacquiao and Mayweather.
Since Donaire's signature left-hook relieved Montiel of his two bantamweight titles, he's become the next must see fighter in boxing, and for good reason, he can fight. Donaire's showing and overnight stardom is another undeniable layer of proof that boxing, at its best, is still the most exciting and thrilling sport of all to watch. With all the things that are currently an anchor around boxing and trying to keep it down, an explosive fighter who can consistently deliver exciting fights against the best boxing has to offer, can't be held down. And based on his overall body of work, Nonito Donaire appears to be the real deal.
There's only one foreseeable problem on the horizon for Donaire that might hurt him down the road. And it's something that he has no control over but will no doubt be a victim of, and that's the inevitable comparisons to Manny Pacquiao that he'll be saddled with based on the fact that he's an excellent Philippine fighter. We've seen this in the past and it's never fair to the fighter or athlete who's on the way up and making a name for himself. As great as former heavyweight champ Larry Holmes was, he never lived up to being the next Muhammad Ali. Roy Jones wasn't the next Sugar Ray Robinson and Floyd Mayweather, aside from being undefeated, wasn't the next Roy Jones when it came to his skill set and accomplishments.
So it would be best for Nonito Donaire and the sport of professional boxing if the bar being set for him is not him having to be the next Manny Pacquiao. Not only is it not realistic, but it's not fair. First, it puts pressure on him to be something he's not. Second, it doesn't take into account how fundamentally different Donaire is from Pacquiao stylistically.
Right now WBC/WBO bantamweight champ Nonito Donaire is must see. He's lucky to be fighting in a division that's loaded with some great match ups for him to the north and south of it. Mark my words, he's not going to win every one of his future bouts in the same fashion he did against Fernando Montiel. However, from what we've seen he'll be doing his best to do so. He's got dynamite in his left hand and is a great counter-puncher who can fight outside, which makes him very dangerous as we just saw.
It's great that two of the top three or four fighters in boxing are Philippine. But aside from both of them bursting onto the scene with sensational second round knockouts (Pacquiao KO 2 Hatton) that's really all they share. Donaire is not the next Pacquiao, but he is the real deal, so let's enjoy watching him fight as long as he's around and fighting at the highest level.
Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com
Source: thesweetscience.com
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