MACAU // The Filipino great Manny Pacquiao will need to shrug off the distractions of a deadly typhoon and a physical clash involving his trainer as he heads into a make-or-break comeback fight against Brandon Rios on Sunday.
The only man to win world titles in eight different weight classes knows that his career is on the line as he returns to the ring in Macau, just days away from his 35th birthday.
It is almost a year since Pacquiao was knocked cold by his Mexican arch-rival Juan Manuel Marquez, a defeat that came six months after a controversial split-decision defeat to the American Timothy Bradley.
If he were to suffer a third loss in succession, in the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) International welterweight title clash with America’s Rios, talk of his retirement would amplify into a roar.
Only 18 months ago, “Pac-Man” was regarded by many as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, having lost only once in 31 fights dating to 1999.
Freddie Roach, his trainer, has conceded that if Pacquiao loses badly to Rios, a former lightweight world champion, he would have no hesitation in telling him to retire.
But defeat is the last thing on the mind of Pacquiao, who is guaranteed to receive US$18 million (Dh66.1m) for the fight, which is likely to begin around noon in Macau – 9am in the UAE and midnight in New York.
“Brandon Rios says he’s hungry to win this fight, and I also say I’m hungry to win this fight because I’ve lost twice last year,” Pacquiao said.
The final days of Pacquiao’s build-up have been anything but smooth after Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines, leaving about 5,500 people dead or missing.
Pacquiao’s training base in General Santos City escaped the storm, but the Filipino congressman had to be talked out of halting his preparations to visit the disaster area.
“I’m doing my best to win this fight and give a good fight, especially with what happened to my countrymen,” he said. “To all the people and the families who have been affected by this storm, the typhoon – this fight is for you.”
Pacquiao was also unimpressed by a bust-up between Roach and Rios’s camp, which ended with Alex Ariza, Rios’s conditioning coach, kicking the 53-year-old Parkinson’s disease-sufferer in the chest.
As cameras rolled for a reality TV show, the two sides were heard exchanging racial insults and expletives, while Ariza mocked Roach’s slurred speech.
“All I can say is both teams prepared for this fight. Let this finish in the ring and not in trash talk before the fight,” Pacquiao said. “Let’s set a good example to all the people who admire boxing.
“All I can say is this is sports. This is nothing personal, we are doing our job in the ring. Anyone who has a grievance should forgive as the Lord forgives.”
Although Roach says Pacquiao’s intense eight-week training camp has put the 10-time world champion in his best shape for years, his challenger is confident.
“This is the best shape I have ever been,” said Rios, 27, who has a 31-1-1 record but has never boxed at welterweight or fought anyone of Pacquiao’s pedigree.
“I’m nobody’s tune-up fight,” Rios said. “I’m nobody’s punching bag. A punching bag don’t punch back. Sunday, you’re going to find out I’m not going to stop. I’m a monster when I get in that ring.”
Rios is also unfazed by stepping up two weight divisions and 12 pounds in the past 18 months, saying 147 pounds is a “natural weight” for him.
Both fighters will have to cope with the unusual timing, meant to attract the pay-per-view audience in the US. It is expected Pacquiao will eat breakfast at 4.30am.
If Pacquiao wins, he will seek a re-match with Marquez ahead of a long-mooted meeting with Floyd Mayweather that fans have longed to see. Lose, and the end of his career draws nearer.
sports@thenational.ae
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The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Company%C2%A0profile
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The specs: 2018 Genesis G70
Price, base / as tested: Dh155,000 / Dh205,000
Engine: 3.3-litre, turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 370hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 510Nm @ 1,300rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.6L / 100km
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
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Results
5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,600m, Winner: Panadol, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
6.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m, Winner: Mayehaab, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Monoski, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Eastern World, Royston Ffrench, Charlie Appleby
7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Madkal, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
8.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Taneen, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
MATCH INFO
Kolkata Knight Riders 245/6 (20 ovs)
Kings XI Punjab 214/8 (20 ovs)
Kolkata won by 31 runs
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
Info
What: 11th edition of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship
When: December 27-29, 2018
Confirmed: men: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem, Hyeon Chung, Karen Khachanov; women: Venus Williams
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae, Virgin megastores or call 800 86 823
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
