Boxing: Pacquiao-Thurman to be aired on SKY Sports PPV

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao guns for another win in a major boxing bout when he challenges Keith Thurman for the WBA (super) welterweight world title on July 21.

The bout, which will be at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, will be aired live via SKY Sports Pay-per-View.

Pacquiao, who holds the "regular" version of the WBA belt, faces an opponent 10 years his junior. It will be the Filipino legend's first fight since beating Adrien Broner last January for the first defense of the title that he won from Lucas Matthysse in 2017.

Pacquiao currently holds a boxing record of 61-7-2 with 39 wins coming via knockout.

On the other hand, Thurman – who is also known by the moniker "One Time" – is coming off a majority decision win over Josesito Lopez. He owns an unblemished record of 30-0-0, with 22 wins via knockout, and one no contest.

Subscribe now until June 30 to avail of an early bird promo, for only P649 instead of P949. This promo is available to all digital SKYcable, SKY Fiber, and SKYdirect subscribers nationwide.

Subscribers to the fight on SKY Sports Pay-Per-View will have access to its live and commercial-free airing in high definition, including its replays on the same day right after the live event, as well as its livestream with a 7-day catch-up via SKY on Demand.

Call 418 0000 or your SKY local office or visit www.mysky.com/pacman to subscribe. SKYcable, SKY Fiber + HD Cable TV Plan and SKYdirect subscribers can also activate their subscription by texting PPV to 23662.

For SKYdirect prepaid subscribers, they can text PPV PACMAN to 23667 (available to Globe Prepaid, or TM ).

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Sky Sports Pay-Per-View to air Mayweather vs. McGregor

MANILA, Philippines – One of the most anticipated fights of 2017 is coming to SKY Sports Pay-Per-View on Sunday, August 27, live from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Unbeaten American superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr. will come out of retirement to face off against mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor in a boxing match.

Mayweather is a highly decorated boxer who will stake his immaculate professional record of 49 wins with no loss.

McGregor, meanwhile, will challenge the boxing legend that has been labeled as the top pound-for-pound fighter of the last 25 years. The Irishman has an MMA record of 21 wins and three losses, 18 victories of which came by knockout.

The reigning UFC lightweight and former UFC featherweight champion has competed as a feather, lightweight, and welterweight through the duration of his fight career.

The fight will be aired at approximately 9 a.m., but fans can also catch the replay at 7 p.m., also on August 27.

The special is available to subscribers of ONE SKY, SKYcable, Destiny Cable, SKYdirect, and SKYBroadband via SKY On Demand for P950.

Existing subscribers can catch the fight by calling 4180000 or their local SKY office, texting BOXINGPPV to 23662 or by visiting www.mysky.com.ph/boxingppv.

SKYdirect postpaid subscribers can text SKY to 23668; SKYdirect prepaid users can also subscribe through mysky.com.ph/boxingppv.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Fellaini helps United to 2-0 win over Hull in Cup semi

Manchester United turned frustration into jubilation as they planted one foot in the League Cup final after a late Marouane Fellaini header gave them a 2-0 win over Hull City in the first leg of their last four clash on Tuesday.

Juan Mata had given United the lead early in the second half, but their failure to kill off the tie when comfortably on top had left the home fans fearing a testing return encounter as the seconds ticked away at Old Trafford.

The hosts had spurned several chances to put the tie to bed, with Paul Pogba rattling the post, before substitute Fellaini gave Jose Mourinho's side some breathing space when he rose at the far post to head home with three minutes remaining.

The victory kept the Portuguese coach on course for a first trophy at the club and continued United's superb recent form with a ninth successive victory in all competitions, but the demanding Mourinho was far from satisfied with what he saw.


"I was a bit disappointed yes," he told Sky Sports.

"I think we were a bit sloppy, overcomplicating things, always delaying the decision, giving them time to regroup... In the second half we all improved a little bit, just a little bit."

INJURY CRISIS

In only his second game as Hull boss, fellow Portuguese Marco Silva had to deal with an injury crisis that left him with only 14 fit senior players and there was a makeshift look about them as United took control early on.

Mata drew an excellent save from Hull keeper Eldin Jakupovic after two minutes, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan sidefooted wide after being set up perfectly by the Spaniard.

The visitors, whose injury woes got worse when Markus Henriksen went off after 19 minutes with a shoulder problem, did have arguably the best chance of the first half, however, when Adama Diomande headed against the base of the post.

Wayne Rooney, seeking to become United's outright record scorer, crashed a shot just wide five minutes after the break and was later substituted, but the deadlock was soon broken.

Antonio Valencia's deep cross to the far post was headed back across goal by Mkhitaryan and Mata ghosted in to volley home from close range.

United almost doubled their lead as Paul Pogba rattled the post with a free kick, but the frustration levels were rising until Belgian Fellaini came off the bench to make his mark and provide a cushion for the second leg on Jan. 26.

Southampton and Liverpool contest the other semi-final, with the first leg at St Mary's on Wednesday.

(Reporting by Toby Davis; Editing by Ken Ferris)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Khan blasts 'childish' Floyd, looks forward to Pacquiao bout

MANILA – Former world champion Amir Khan of Britain has once again lashed out at Floyd Mayweather Jr. after the unbeaten American superstar last week formally announced that he will fight Andre Berto in September.

Khan has repeatedly challenged Mayweather to a fight, most notably after his victory over Chris Algieri in late May. The American, however, did not rise to the bait, and instead picked Berto, another former world champion, as his opponent for what he says will be his final fight.

When asked about Khan, Mayweather suggested that he should first try to avenge a loss to Danny Garcia that came in 2012, much to the dismay of the British boxer.

"He's just putting all these obstacles in front of me, because he knows that I'm obviously a big threat to him," Khan said, as quoted by Sky Sports. "Work it out. Look at my last few opponents, and he's fighting Berto."

"No disrespect to Berto, who is a friend of mine, but obviously, there are levels in boxing," he added.

Berto has gone only 3-3 in his last six fights, and the announcement that he will be Mayweather's opponent was mostly met with derision and disappointment by fans and boxing media alike.

"I think he's just being a little childish," Khan said of Mayweather. "He knows that Amir Khan will give him a tough fight, and he's kind of avoiding it."

Khan says he still has a lot of options, including a potential fight with countryman Kell Brook, as well as a showdown with former sparring partner Manny Pacquiao.

"If he (Mayweather) is not going to man up and fight me, then I'll have to fight Manny Pacquiao, or someone like that. Someone who would fight me," he added.

Khan further said that he believes the Pacquiao fight "can be made quite easily."

"I think Manny is a man, and he would definitely take that fight," he added.

Pacquiao cannot fight until 2016 as the Filipino icon is still recovering from a shoulder injury that he aggravated during his May 2 loss to Mayweather in their "Fight of the Century."

Pacquiao and Khan were stable mates and sparring partners until 2012, when Khan left Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym and hired Virgil Hunter as his trainer.

 

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Liverpool and Man City agree £49m Sterling move: reports

LONDON -- Liverpool have reached an agreement with Premier League rivals Manchester City over the £49 million ($76 million, 68 million euro transfer) of England forward Raheem Sterling, the BBC and other British media reported Monday.

However, the 20-year-old's proposed move is still subject to personal terms and a medical.

Sterling was left behind by Liverpool when the club flew out to Thailand for a pre-season tour on Sunday, fuelling speculation that a move to City was imminent, despite being named Saturday in a 30-man squad for a trip that also includes matches in Australia and Malaysia.

Earlier this month it was reported that Liverpool had turned down a £40 million bid for Sterling from City, with only an offer closer to £50 million likely to tempt them to let the wantaway forward leave Merseyside.

Sterling's refusal to commit to Liverpool has angered the club's supporters, who jeered him at an end-of-season awards dinner.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers's relationship with Sterling cooled considerably when the player turned down a lucrative new contract worth £100,000 per week in January this year.

In February, Rodgers said Sterling had been offered an "incredible deal".

Two months later, Sterling's relationship with the Liverpool hierarchy became even more strained when, in an interview with the BBC given without the club's approval, he confirmed he had rejected the Reds' latest contract offer.

Sterling's agent, Aidy Ward, then added to the growing rift by saying his client would not sign a new deal with Liverpool even for "£900,000 a week".

Amid the row over whether he would or should sign a new Liverpool deal, Sterling was involved in controversy after photographs emerged of him appearing to puff on a shisha pipe, and then allegedly inhaling laughing gas, were published.

But it is the contract dispute and Sterling's recent absence from training which have angered Liverpool fans above all else.

Liverpool great Steven Gerrard, Sterling's captain at Anfield until the end of last season, was decidedly unimpressed by the behaviour of his former team-mate.

"It looks very disappointing from where I'm sat. The fans have shown him great support, they want him to stay and I believe that he should too," Gerrard told Sky Sports from Los Angeles where he made his debut for LA Galaxy on Saturday.

Sterling returned to training on Friday after a two-day hiatus when he said he was ill.

"I'm not happy with all that carry-on. He needs to go in and see the owners. You don't have to throw in illness, or refuse to go on tour," said Gerrard.

Sterling joined Liverpool from QPR's academy in 2010 and has since scored 23 goals in 129 senior appearances for the club.

He made his senior England debut in 2012, scoring one goal in 16 appearances.

Liverpool finished sixth in the Premier League last season and so missed out on the Champions League, whereas runners-up City have qualified for European football's elite club competition.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com