Boxing: Fear of losing drives Joshua to remain world's 'best heavyweight'

World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua may have proclaimed himself "the best in the division" ahead of putting his titles on the line against Russia's Alexander Povetkin at Wembley Stadium, but he also stressed a defeat would not signal the end of his career. 

The 28-year-old British boxer has won all 21 of his fights since entering the paid ranks, with 20 by way of knockout, although his last title defense, against New Zealand's Joseph Parker in Cardiff in March saw him go the distance for the first time as a professional before he secured a unanimous points decision.

But Joshua, citing the example of many great boxers, insisted a reverse in front of his home crowd on Saturday would not see him bow out of boxing.

"That fear of losing is always there," Joshua, the International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization champion, told reporters at Wembley. 

"Sugar Ray Robinson, the best fighter of all time, can lose. Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Roberto, Duran, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, (all lost)."

"So who am I to go undefeated?...I have lost before as an amateur and that didn't deter me from getting where I am today," added the London 2012 Olympic champion.

When it was put to Joshua that losing would not end his career, he replied: "One hundred percent and I know that it could happen because I know how tough this sport is."

"That's what I say in boxing, there's no league one, league two...You are either the best or you're not."

Joshua has a significant height and reach advantage of several inches over Povetkin, the 2004 Olympic champion.

Friday's weigh-in also confirmed a significant size difference, with Joshua tipping the scales at 17 stone 8 pounds (111.5 kilos) compared to the 39-year-old Povetkin's 15st 12lbs (100.7 kilos).

This fight sees Joshua returning to the scene of arguably his greatest triumph, an 11th-round stoppage of former champion Wladimir Klitschko last year.

Klitschko is the only man to have inflicted a blemish on Povetkin's 35-fight record, with a points win back in 2013.

Povetkin, however, served notice of his formidable punching power with a sickening knockout of Britain's David Price on the Joshua-Parker undercard at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.

Nevertheless, Joshua had no doubt his best would be good enough to defeat Povetkin.

"Yeah 100 percent," he said. 

"I am the best in the division. There is no doubt about it. It's been proven. There hasn't been a time in boxing since I've been an amateur that I haven’t been on top," added Joshua, whose management have yet to secure a heavyweight unification fight with World Boxing Council champion Deontay Wilder.

'Well is deep' 

Joshua though insisted he was fully focused on the challenge posed by Povetkin.

"I’m up against one of the best fighters in the world, he's a top three fighter in the world, so I have got to be on my A game," he explained.

But Joshua believes the fact he won a grueling contest against Klitschko would stand him in good stead on Saturday.

"Povetkin says he is not the same fighter he was when he lost to Klitschko, he's stronger," said Joshua. 

"I can reflect and say I'm the same. When I fought Klitschko, I thought we would have a good boxing match. You know, two tall guys jab, one-two, one-two hook and I’m probably going to knock him out like I did the rest of the fighters. It turned out to be a completely different kind of night," he said. 

"Klitschko at the end of his career, he was 39, wanted his hands on the championship belts and he said he was obsessed."

"He was probably in good condition, because most fighters are if they train, but he was obsessed. Povetkin, same thing. Back at Wembley at the end of his career, same age, wants his hands on the belts so I have got to be prepared to go through hell and back," he said. 

"Without that Klitschko fight, I wouldn't be as prepared as I am now," Joshua explained.

"I think my well is deep, my heart can definitely go through hell and back."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Chelsea beat Saints to set up FA Cup final against Man Utd

LONDON - A flash of attacking brilliance from Olivier Giroud and an emphatic header from substitute Alvaro Morata earned Chelsea a 2-0 win over struggling Southampton at Wembley on Sunday and an FA Cup final date with Manchester United next month.

Giroud muscled and dribbled past three defenders and flailing keeper Alex McCarthy seconds into the second half to poke the ball home from a pass by the ever-busy Eden Hazard.

"I love to play here (Wembley) and I have been unbeaten here so hopefully for the final we are going to keep it up," Giroud, whose Arsenal side beat Chelsea in the final last year, told BT sport.

Morata, who came on for Giroud, made it two in the 82nd minute, nodding Cesar Azpilicueta's cross into the net.

Relegation-threatened Southampton were outplayed for most of the match, but defended manfully during a dour first half, during which Chelsea forward Willian hit the crossbar.

The Saints were forced to move out of their half after Giroud's goal and came close to equalising in the 72nd minute when Chelsea keeper Willy Caballero's save kept out Nathan Redmond's rasping shot.

They also had a possible goal not given when Charlie Austin was judged to have fouled the keeper. Austin then hit the post in the dying minutes of the game.

Chelsea will meet Jose Mourinho's United at Wembley on May 19 after the Manchester side beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the first semi-final on Saturday.

The clash will have added spice because of the tension between former Chelsea boss Mourinho and current coach Antonio Conte.

Hazard, who has played under both managers, said: "We gave everything, we played very good football especially in the second half and controlled the game.

"Now we go to the final and for the championship (Premier League) again and then we can think about the final against Manchester United."

Chelsea are fifth in the league but Hazard said they had not given up hope of making the top four and getting a Champions League spot as well as winning the FA Cup.

(Reporting by Clare Lovell; editing by Clare Fallon)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

France, England to unite in song and solidarity

LONDON -- A communal rendition of the French national anthem will provide the emotional centre-point as France play England at Wembley on Tuesday four days on from the devastating Paris attacks.

The stadium's bars will shut five minutes before kick-off to encourage fans to observe tributes that will include a minute's silence, the laying of flowers by team captains Wayne Rooney and Hugo Lloris and the singing of 'La Marseillaise', which England's fans have been urged to join in with.

Breaking with convention, the French anthem will be played second, with the hymn's lyrics shown on the stadium's big screens, in order to create a stand-alone moment of solidarity during which the 129 people who died in the carnage that struck the French capital last Friday will be remembered.

"We will sing that together and share in that moment," said France goalkeeper Lloris, who plays for London club Tottenham Hotspur.

"It will be sung by a great number of English people as well, which will make it stronger.

"This game is a good opportunity to represent the French nation. The French nation is more important than French football tomorrow (Tuesday)."

While British authorities have received no specific intelligence about any planned attacks, armed police will be deployed around the stadium to reassure an expected crowd of around 80,000 that will include Prince William as well as 1,400 travelling supporters.

Fans have been urged to arrive early as security checks are expected to take longer than usual, with the bags of every single person in attendance due to be searched.

Paris's Stade de France was targeted by suicide bombers during Friday's attacks, leaving four people dead including three attackers, but the Football Association said that tickets for Tuesday's game had sold at a healthy rate in the days since. Only around 100 tickets have been returned.

The FA has confirmed that the giant arch over Wembley will continue to be lit in the red, white and blue of the French Tricolor, while France's motto -- 'Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite' -- will be shown on screens outside the ground.

The match itself promises to be a curious spectacle, with players on both sides having admitted that it will be difficult, if not impossible, to focus on football so soon after Friday's horrors, which also left over 350 people injured.

- 'Night of togetherness' -
But all are mindful that the event will serve as a powerful show of unity, echoing FA chief executive Martin Glenn's declaration that "the eyes of the world" will be on Wembley.

"I'm happy the game's on," said Rooney, who is due to return to England's starting XI after starting Friday's 2-0 loss to Spain on the bench.

"It shows France wants to show these terrorists they're standing strong against them, and we have to support that.

"Tomorrow (Tuesday) will be a great night of togetherness for everyone to see, for the terrorists to see the world will go on and stand against them."

Friday's attacks claimed by Islamic State touched the France squad particularly closely. The cousin of France midfielder Lassana Diarra, Asta Diakite, was among those killed, while the sister of forward Antoine Griezmann escaped unhurt from the assault on the Bataclan concert hall.

France coach Didier Deschamps praised Diarra's decision to remain with the squad despite the fact the Marseille midfielder was "hurting to the bone".

"We can't forget," an emotional Deschamps told his pre-game press conference.

"We've had two days to get over this immense sadness. Today we're here and our energy has to be focused on preparing for this match with as much dignity and solemnity as possible."

Rooney added: "Sometimes, when bad things happen, football is the place where you feel more comfortable. Their players might take that into consideration."

Euro 2016 hosts France are seeking to record a sixth successive win, following their impressive 2-0 defeat of world champions Germany, while Roy Hodgson's England are hoping to return to winning ways after their 15-game unbeaten run was ended by Spain in Alicante.

Michael Carrick, Fabian Delph and Jamie Vardy have withdrawn from England's squad due to injury, with Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Ryan Mason and uncapped Manchester United winger Jesse Lingard drafted in.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Rooney hopes for 'special' Wembley moment

LONDON -- Having matched Bobby Charlton's England goal-scoring record against San Marino, Wayne Rooney plans to set a new mark in front of a home crowd against Switzerland at Wembley on Tuesday.

Rooney's penalty opener in Saturday's 6-0 win in San Marino, which secured a place at Euro 2016, was his 49th international goal and left him needing one more to become the first England player to reach a half-century.

Substituted mid-way through the second half in Serravalle, Rooney believes it will be more fitting if he breaks the record at Wembley, but admits that it is trophies, rather than personal milestones, that fire him.

"It would have been nice tonight (Saturday) as well, but to do it at Wembley would be a lot more special and hopefully on Tuesday I can do that," the Manchester United striker said.

"It was my 106th game and as much as I love playing for England and scoring goals, there would be nothing better than being successful with England and that's all any player wants to do.

"I'm sure the other lads are no different. It's the ultimate goal and if I don't, I'll be disappointed.

"Hopefully the young players in the future can, but it's the ultimate goal for me and that's what I want to do -– be successful with England."

Euro 2016 will be Rooney's sixth major championship with England and he knows that time is running out for him to atone for a litany of tournament disappointments by getting his hands on an international trophy.

The England captain will be 30 by the time England travel to France, but he fully intends to play on until the 2018 World Cup in Russia and potentially beyond.

"I still feel fine," he said. "I think I can go to Russia and then see how I feel, but that's not something I'm thinking about."

- Hodgson wants 'headaches' -

Manager Roy Hodgson wants his team to make sure of top spot in Group E -- a draw on Tuesday will suffice -- so that he can use England's remaining qualifiers against Estonia and Lithuania in October to experiment.

"Hopefully, one point on Tuesday night and we will have won the group as well," said Hodgson, whose side have won all six group games since beating Switzerland 2-0 in Basel in their first match.

"That would be nice to do that because, quite frankly, I don't think we would lose to Estonia and Lithuania with players like (Ross) Barkley, (Jonjo) Shelvey, (Nathaniel) Clyne, (Jamie) Vardy etc.

"It would be nice for me to say: 'Look, get out there, I'm trusting you, give me a few headaches because I'm resting these ones who have been playing all the time.' It would be a nice headache."

Hodgson praised Swansea City midfielder Shelvey for his display against San Marino, but said that Rooney's United team-mate Michael Carrick would take over in the midfield holding role against Switzerland.

In a previous job, Hodgson led Switzerland to the World Cup finals in 1994 -- the first time they had reached the tournament since 1966 -- and the country he once called home is hoping he might do them another favour.

Switzerland's qualification hopes looked in serious jeopardy after they fell 2-0 down at home to Slovenia on Saturday, but a stirring late fightback yielded a remarkable 3-2 victory that means they can secure at least a play-off place by winning at Wembley.

"We had a bit of luck, but we deserved to win," said coach Vladimir Petkovic, whose side prevailed courtesy of three goals in 14 minutes from Valentin Stocker and substitute Josip Drmic, whose brace included a 94th-minute winner.

"We said that, as a team, we wanted to stay together and be positive. I'm really proud of the team. It's not every day you manage to do something like this."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com