Manny makes ESPN Champ of Champs final

Manny Pacquiao advanced to the finals of the ESPN STAR Sports’ Champion of Champions competition, knocking out Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar in the online poll for the Sports Personality of the Year.

Pacquiao booted out Tendulkar in the semifinals after voting ended Wednesday. The world’s best pound-for-pound boxer will now face World number one squash player Nicol David of Malaysia for the title as the man who made the biggest impact in the world of sport in the year about to end.

David defeated another Indian cricket player in Sourav Ganguly in the other semifinal bracket. The Champion of Champions will be announced live on SportsCenter on Dec. 31.

Prior to his victory over Tendulkar, Pacquiao outvoted Liverpool striker Fernando Torres of Spain in the quarterfinal round and motorcycle racer Valentino Rossi in the first round.

The contest aims to garner public opinion to determine the individual who has gone beyond achievements and new levels of excellence to leave his mark on sports fans in 2008.

Tennis Star Lindsay Davenport Returns in Aussie Open

Sydney, Australia (AP)—Three-time Grand Slam-winner Lindsay Davenport has signaled a return to the WTA Tour by entering the Australian Open.

Davenport, 32, who won the 2000 Australian Open, has not played a tournament since the U.S. Open in August, fueling speculation she was planning to retire.

“We are really excited that she has entered,” tournament director Craig Tiley said Thursday. “She is a world class player and a great ambassador for our sport.”

As well as her Australian Open singles title, Davenport won Wimbledon in 1999 and the U.S. Open in 1998. She took part in this year’s Australian Open, losing to eventual champion Maria Sharapova in the second round.

Davenport took a break from the WTA Tour for part of the 2006 and 2007 seasons before giving birth to a son, Jagger, in June 2007.

Entries for next year’s Open have closed and the top 100 men and women are all on the list for the main draws

Some Analyis on the De La Hoya - Pacquiao match

With the match between Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao nearing (December 6), expect to hear more analysis and word war between the two camps. Will it be Pacquiao or De La Hoya? Is Pacquiao ready to face the bigger De La Hoya? Will the predictions or speculations turn out in favor of one? But what are the people saying about this match. Here are some samples we’ve gathered so far through e-mail.

Here are some:

1. Antonio Iturralde, Zamboanga City, via e-mail

"Freddie Roach, who has been a consistent handler of boxing champ Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao surely knows his fighter and the science of boxing. Freddie Roach’s prediction that it will end on the 9th or 10th round is 95 percent sure. Let’s all bet on our national treasure even at 10:7. On the other hand, the camp of De La Hoya is lead by a new handler who has a good track record but his fighter is new to him."

2. Mariano Beltran, New York City, via e-mail

"Even though I’m a naturalized American citizen now for many years, I still have that Filipino roots and upbringing with me so naturally I always root for Pacquiao whenever he has a fight. But I want to tell you that this time I’m not rooting for anyone. Why? It is not because the Golden Boy is a Mexican. From the boxing standpoint, Pacquiao can’t win. I’m no boxing genius but I have this feeling that Pacquiao will have his first defeat at the hands of the Golden Boy. And, I think it will be bloody. I have never seen such confidence from the Mexican population here in New York. And their points aside from being practical are mostly based on statistics. One thing they always point out is it should be quick and easy. Golden Boy will finish Pacquiao in the 3rd round or it will be a draw."

Lunas, Donaire, Pacman: 3 Pinoys for the world

It’s easy to believe that a major upheaval will hit Las Vegas on Dec. 6, based on the pronouncements of matchmaker cum laude Bob Arum.

At the rate Manny Pacquiao, called extremely amazing by Arum, has been loading up on power and speed, there should be lightning and thunder once the Filipino boxing superhero lands his biggest punch for the Pinoy.

Expect a power outage inside the ring at the MGM Grand, with the aftershock of Pacquiao’s shattering hammer blow being felt all over the world.

Hold it, please.

Uncle Bob also tends to be too generous with adjectives.

He easily gets carried away selling his fighters.

Of course, he readily got a stiff rebuff—a jab on the kisser—after he twitted Oscar De La Hoya for allegedly hiring the wrong trainer in Nacho Beristain.

Arum was reminded De La Hoya was not dumb to get somebody to cramp and change his proven sharp style.

Oscar will be at his meanest best, Arum was reminded, and Pacquiao better be ready because his only chance hinges on not getting hit.

Yes, things will never be equal once Pacquiao and De La Hoya proceed to tear at each other.

Pacquiao has, so far, proven easier to hit, and he’s also brittle around the brows.

However, De La Hoya has been seen to suffer from a graver fault.

He had regularly faded and steamed out in the closing rounds of his big battles.

All told, there’s this certainty of a knockout fast shaping up.

Experts were united in their prognosis: Hoya, if the stoppage comes in side six; Pacquiao, shaking up the boxing world in the ninth or maybe later.

They, definitely, will rock ’n roll up there at MGM Grand.

This said, there should be no waltzing for either of two more Filipino warriors in their respective world title fights this week.

He has been held back by promotional hassles.

But reigning IBF flyweight king Nonito Donaire tries to again electrify the ring in his second title defense at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on Saturday (Sunday in Manila.)

Before that much-delayed outing by Donaire, dubbed the right-handed Gabriel “Flash” Elorde by prizefight maestro Rudy Salud, a relatively obscure warrior from Bicol fights for the WBA bantamweight crown.

Rolly Lunas, reigning OPBF 118-pound champ, tries to snap the string of setbacks by Filipinos against Panamanians.

He clashes with defending champion Anselmo Moreno (22-1-1) at the Centro de Convention Figali off the Panama Canal on Thursday (Friday morning in Manila.)

Then on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) Donaire takes on Moruti Mthalane, a dangerous mandatory challenger from South Africa.

What a thrill it would be if all three Filipino warriors, headed by Pacquiao, score resounding wins in the run-up to the holidays.

But, to repeat, Pacquiao won’t only be sending merry bells ringing if he puts the lights out on the Golden Boy.

It could be the brightest Christmas for his countless fans who continue to pray for their radiant, raging idol to gather enough tools and protection against expected early bombardment.

Dundee sees a bullfight in Pacman-Hoya bout

They obviously did not know enough about the man so they shrieked: What made him an authority on boxing?

That’s no longer surprising.

But you can bet majority of those who rejected Angelo Dundee when he said it would be “a cakewalk for Oscar De La Hoya” in his fight against Manny Pacquiao were unshakeable fanatics of the Filipino boxing superhero.

It’s also easier to conclude that, based on his mythical achievements, Dundee was being honestly objective in his prediction.

Here was how Dundee, 87, put it: “Oscar has fought and sparred with so many small guys. Oscar has knocked them all over the ring. I don’t think Manny can win that fight. I really don’t.”

That statement, given by the prizefight genius who goaded Muhammad Ali way up past Mt. Olympus, may not sound as profound as it should be.

But the brief quote was enough for Michael Marley of boxingconfidential.com, a tireless, inventive wordsmith, to drum it up for the world to stop and listen.

No, it’s not the sound of a locomotive chugging to where mesmerized Pacquiao fans are excitedly fixed

So who cares about this hairless old man and his predictions?

Well, in Dundee’s case, what he said should not normally be taken as a plain forecast.

It should’ve instead carried the weight and impact of a pontifical pronouncement.

Dundee, going by his worth, may have had earned enough merits to qualify him as the Pontiff of Pugilism.

Sorry, but there’s no such thing as the pope of prizefighting.

As a result, the morning after Dundee made his pronouncement, odds over the Las Vegas betting windows started to sway to Pacquiao’s side.

While there was a worrisome meltdown of Pacquiao’s stock at the start, the Dec. 6 bout no longer pointed to a sickening mismatch based on latest odds.

In fact, out there in Mexico, Pacquiao has started to win admirers in big numbers.

They appear to like Pacquiao more over De La Hoya, reported Hesiquio Alderas Olivio, who added that fans he polled in his area were “72 percent in favor of El Pacquiu.”

It was also observed that Mexicans have started to warm up to Pacquiao because “he has the big heart and the fierce fighting stance of Mexican warriors.”

Now, to those who care to know, here’s why Dundee cannot be expected to join new-found Pacquiao devotees.

First, Dundee is American.

He also preaches the gospel of classic prizefighting that puts a premium on craft, ring generalship, overall wisdom and defense.

Based on their respective styles, it’s easy to conclude that Dundee also sees the ultimate makings of a bullfight in the Pacquiao-De La Hoya fight.

De La Hoya, taller with a classic overview fighting stance, will inevitably end up the matador.

Pacquiao, needless to say, will have no choice but take the role of an unstoppable, raging bull.

In closing, Dundee must’ve also seen the Dec. 6 Dream Match being fought the way the Thrilla in Manila of Oct. 1975 was fought.

That unforgettable bout was a classic between a matador, Muhammad Ali, and a fierce, unyielding bull, Joe Frazier.

Don’t ask Dundee who won, he must’ve forgotten.

Alcano, Luat post big US Open starts

Two-time world champion Ronnie Alcano shook off an uneasy start to down American Mike Brown, 11-7, in the opening round of the 33rd Annual US Open 9-Ball Championship on Sunday at the Chesapeake Convention Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Arriving just in time for the $250,000 week-long tournament, Alcano had a tough time against Brown, a veteran internationalist, before pulling through to show the way for the nine-man Filipino squad.

The prestigious event drew a total of 237 players from around the world.

Rodolfo Luat joined Alcano in the second round after posting an 11-5 victory over Louis Ulrich.

Four other Filipinos—Francisco “Django” Bustamante, Lee Van Corteza, Warren Kiamco and Jose “Amang” Parica—likewise advanced after drawing byes.

“Medyo pagod pa ako sa mahabang biyahe (I’m still tired from the long trip),” said Alcano, the former double world champion from Calamba, Laguna, who is vying for the $40,000 top purse.

“Mabuti na lang at gumanda ‘yung tira ko nung bandang huli (I was lucky that I found my shots in the end).”

He will next face another American in Matt Clatterbuck, an 11-5 winner over compatriot Billy Anderson.

Alcano, last year’s US Open runner-up, is eyeing his first major title since ruling the World 8-Ball Championship in March 2007.

Bustamante will open his bid against Keith Brinton, who won over Adel Al-Shatti, 11-9. Corteza will take on Abdullah El-Yousef, an 11-9 victor against Randy Labonte.

Kiamco, on the other hand, will meet Jason Klatt, who prevailed in his first-round encounter with Ketie Chuberko, while Parica will have Aki Heiskanen as his next foe.

Ramil Gallego was the first Filipino to lose, absorbing an 11-3 whipping from Sam Monday while Leonardo Andam and Joven Alba were still competing at presstime.

Andam was playing Markus Juva of Finland while Alba battled Chris Melling of England.

Also through to the next round were reigning world 9-ball titlist Darryl Peach of England, Thorsten Hohman of Germany and Americans Earl Strickland and Shane van Boening, the defending champion.

Oscar training hardest for Pacman bout

Oscar De La Hoya knows he will be facing the “best Manny Pacquiao ever.”

The scary thing is the 10-time world champion is doing something about it.

The Golden Boy’s boyhood buddy, GBP vice president Eric Gomez said his 35-year-old boss already knows of the plan to invade into his aging midsection, before bringing the juggernaut to his movie star face.

“Oscar’s preparing to fight the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. He’s getting ready with everything in mind, I mean, he’s [saying the Pacquiao is] gonna hit me in the body, my face, anywhere so I gotta prepare for that, so stuff like that doesn’t bother him. He’s a veteran,” Gomez told dzSR sports radio recently.

There won’t be any secret strategies to be kept anymore from boxing’s biggest marquee names, he said, and that everything will come to a head only when Pacquiao and De La Hoya finally meet on Dec. 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“At the end of the day nobody knows what’s going to happen. They still have to fight each other. These guys, you can’t measure the size of their hearts. And that’s one thing that both fighters have,” added Gomez.

Gomez, who unlike GBP CEO Richard Schafer was cautious in making a prediction, acknowledged that Pacquiao is one of the best southpaws in the history of the game.

“Obviously Oscar believes he is fighting one of the best southpaws in the history of boxing in Manny Pacquiao. You can put Manny’s name up there with Marvin Hagler,” Gomez said.

“You’re dealing with an Oscar now that’s not in his prime. He’s still good and he can still compete at a high level but he’s not in his prime anymore.”

While Gomez said De La Hoya has been studying all of Pacquiao’s fight tapes, the Filipino four-division champ may be headed for the wrong direction by studying the Golden Boy’s fights against fellow southpaws Pernell Whitaker and Hector Camacho.

“Those guys have very, very different styles. Those guys are boxers and weren’t as aggressive as Manny is. Manny’s much, much more aggressive,” Gomez said. Both Whitaker and Camacho lost to De La Hoya.

Meanwhile, two former middleweight champions Iran Barkley and Vito Antuofermo predicted a lopsided match in favor of De La Hoya.

“That is a fight that is going to favor De La Hoya. Pacquiao is coming up to be a big man but I have to go with De La Hoya,” Barkley told newsday.com. “I think Oscar will win. But it could be an interesting fight. Manny is nothing to sleep on.”
(By Marc Anthony Reyes; Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Weight gain will add power to Pacquiao’s punch

By Roy Luarca

Manny Pacquiao’s power is proportionate to his weight. As he gains poundage, so does the wallop of his punches.

Strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza reportedly made the discovery during his stint at Pacquiao’s training camp in June, when the Filipino ring icon challenged and eventually beat David Diaz for the World Boxing Council lightweight crown.

Ariza, who also monitored Pacquiao’s nutrition, power and speed from Day One of training up to fight night in Las Vegas, affirmed that Pacquiao is endowed with superior strength.

And, unlike before when Pacquiao’s killer punches emanated mostly from the left, both hands now wield lethal power capable of knocking out even a heavyweight boxer.
In a Pacland Forum post Tuesday, Ariza supposedly measured Pacquiao’s power at the start of camp when the four-division champion weighed between 147 and 150 pounds.
The finding startled Ariza, who’d worked with other boxers, and turned him into an instant believer of Pacquiao’s widely recognized brutal power.

But as the training progressed, Ariza also made another startling finding: Pacquiao’s strength declines as he loses weight.

Fact is, in the same post, Ariza supposedly noticed that from being a heavy banger Pacquiao turned into a light hitter after the weigh-in, when he tipped the scales at 134.5 pounds. Expectedly, the decline in power of his developed right was even more pronounced.

Ariza, of course, can’t explain what happened in-between, when Pacquiao slowly stuffed himself with nutritious food, vitamins and drinks before he fought and knocked out Diaz in the ninth round.

Ariza merely concluded that Pacquiao is more dangerous if he doesn’t lose weight during training.

And since Pacquiao is slated to fight Oscar De La Hoya at 147 pounds on Dec. 6, he no longer needs to go on diet because he normally weighs 144-147 pounds.
Ariza may be at a loss to describe the phenomenon of losing and regaining power, but the explanation may have come from Pacquiao himself.

In an interview made before his WBC junior lightweight title fight against Juan Manuel Marquez early this year, Pacquiao likened himself to a sponge.
He can shrink fast, but also bulk up fast.

Against De La Hoya, Pacquiao needs to be just his natural speedy, deadly self.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao arrived in Los Angeles Sunday night to begin his long and arduous preparation for his megabuck bout against De La Hoya.
As always, Pacquiao will train at the Wild Card Gym of celebrated trainer Freddie Roach in Hollywood.

Pacquiao will also take time off to help promote the 12-round fight, a sure sell-out at the MGM Grand Grand Arena in Las Vegas and a certain pay-per-view blockbuster.

Mayweather: Pacquiao can’t win, no way..

Ain’t no way (Manny) Pacquiao can beat Oscar (De La Hoya). No way.”

Floyd Mayweather Sr. made this statement Tuesday to explain why he is not training De La Hoya for his Dec. 6 fight with Pacquiao at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, according to an article by Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports.

Mayweather Sr., wrote Iole, confirmed the split with De La Hoya after reaching him by telephone in Biloxi, Mississippi, where he is preparing Joan Guzman to face Nate Campbell in a WBA-WBO lightweight title bout on Saturday.

“Oscar doesn’t need me to beat Pacquiao,” said Mayweather, as quoted by Iole. “He really doesn’t. For this fight, Oscar can beat Pacquiao with just about anyone training him. When he hits him with that first left hook, it’s all going to be over.

“So, I’ll be honest, Oscar doesn’t need to pay the price to get me in this fight, because he’ll win this with me or without me.”

According to Iole, De La Hoya—who was in Las Vegas promoting Saturday’s lightweight bout between Joel Casamayor and Juan Manuel Marquez—had confirmed reports that Mayweather was hired to train Ricky Hatton for his Nov. 22 fight against Paulie Malignaggi.

While De La Hoya did not say who would be in his corner against Pacquiao, Iole wrote that it was a good guess that Oscar would tap Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain, who has long been regarded as the best trainer in Mexico and whom De La Hoya holds in high regard.

Beristain is the same trainer of Marquez, who carved out a draw with Pacquiao in 2004 before losing by split decision to the Filipino ring icon in their WBC super featherweight title fight last year.

Iole said that Mayweather had intimated that the split was over money, but did not criticize De La Hoya.

“I respect Oscar and I did well with him,” Iole quoted Mayweather as saying, “but he did really, really super well by having me around. Oscar got rich, rich, rich by working with me and I made what I made.”

Besides, Iole said, Mayweather Sr. doesn’t believe De La Hoya will have trouble defeating Pacquiao, who won the WBC lightweight title on June 28 in Las Vegas when he stopped champion David Diaz.

Freddie Roach, who trained De La Hoya in his split-decision loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in May last year, will again work for Pacquiao.

“Floyd Sr. has obligations with Ricky Hatton,” Iole quoted De La Hoya as saying. “Am I disappointed? Absolutely, I’m very disappointed. I respect Floyd Sr. very much. I respect him as a person and as a trainer. Obviously, the door is always wide open for Floyd Sr., because I truly feel that Floyd Sr. can take me, after every single fight, to a whole new level.”

Iole said that the uncertainty over when De La Hoya would fight again was the reason Mayweather decided to sign up with Hatton, noting that the trainer needed work. (Steve Silva, contributor)

De La Hoya-Pacquiao fight a big hit

Philippines—Although he is salivating to be in Oscar De la Hoya’s shoes, Mexican icon Juan Manuel Marquez says the Dec. 6 battle between his tormentor Manny Pacquiao and his promoter Oscar De la Hoya is going to be “a great, great fight.”


Marquez was reacting to a question posed by the media as he prepares to challenge Ring Magazine lightweight king Joel Casamayor on Sunday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.


“Well, I mean that’s (De La Hoya-Pacquiao) a fight that everybody wants to see, everybody is talking about it now,” said Marquez, who still insists that he beat Pacquiao in their two outings in 2004 and 2008.

“Obviously, I support the Mexican, I support Oscar,” added Marquez in the report on EastSideBoxing.com on Monday. “Oscar is my promoter and obviously I’m behind him. But, I think it will be a great, great fight.”

The 35-year-old Marquez, who went to the extent of flying to Manila in April to challenge Pacquiao for a third encounter, said he will prove to everybody that he can beat the world’s best lightweight in Casamayor.

Marquez was obviously taking a dig at Pacquiao, who beat former World Boxing Council lightweight champ David Diaz who was considered by many to be the weakest among the lightweight champs before the title fight.

“I chose to fight Joel Casamayor who, I’m telling you, has won the title as the best 135 pounder,” said Marquez. “Yes, fighting him and getting a victory against him—I just wanted to prove that I’m fighting the best like you mentioned,” said Marquez.

“Manny Pacquiao fought David Diaz, who was a champion yes, but not a top fighter in the 135 lb division.

“But I’m going to prove it. I’m going to prove it to myself, I’m going to prove to the people that I’m the best 135-pounder out there.”

Casamayor, for his part, has indicated that although he is not looking past Marquez, the bigger fight that awaits him will still be Pacquiao.

“I’ll tell you one thing, I’d like the chance (to fight) Pacquiao,” said Casamayor, a boxing gold medalist for Cuba in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

“I really like the 140 lb division. If it’s not over here, I’ll fight him over in England. It’s not a big deal. First off, while I’m against Juan Manuel Marquez, there is no other fight if we can’t get past him.”

Asked about the Pacquiao-Marquez fight, Casamayor took another dig at the Filipino ring hero.

“I’m a savvy guy in the ring,” he said. “I’m not a guy that goes out there like a robot, someone’s robot—nothing like that. I’m a guy that gets loose in the ring.

“When I get in there, I invent. I’m the guy that dictates the pace.” (Salven Lagumbay; INQ.net)

Size is factor but Manny picked for edge vs Oscar dela Hoya

By ROY MEDINA
abs-cbnNEWS.com

The Philippines' Manny Pacquiao may end up as the fighter with the edge against Oscar de la Hoya when they collide in boxing's biggest date yet -- December 6 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, an online analyst said Monday.

Paul Strauss, in his column in Eastsideboxing.com, counted three big points for the World Boxing Council lightweight champion. These include Pacquiao being the best pound-for-pound figther at present, his improvement as a complete fighter with his right jabs and left hooks and of course, the speed.

"If Manny wins, it will be one of the biggest wins in boxing history, involving someone who started out as a flyweight, successfully moving up all the way to welterweight," Strauss said.

However, not all is lost for the "Golden Boy" of boxing since he enjoys advantage in height against Pacquiao.

De la Hoya stands 5' 10 1/2" as against the Filipino boxing icon's 5' 6 1/2". The Golden Boy also has a longer reach at 73" while Pacquiao only has 67".

"Fighters tend to run into reality problems when moving up in weight. In other words, the old saying about a good big man will always beat a good little man (physics) comes into play," Strauss said in his analysis.

He added that the smaller fighter often finds out that his punches "aren't as effective, and regrettably for him the reverse is also true."

"The little man's skeletal and muscular structure cannot withstand the larger man's punches as well as he did in the past when he weathered the hard punches of men his own size," he added.

But then again, Strauss said, de la Hoya's faded away in some of his fights.

"Oscar is not perfect. He has faded in fights.....i.e. against Tito, against Shane and against Pretty Boy. It seems as though his biggest weakness might be his mindset. When asked why he quit throwing his jab against Floyd, he couldn't supply a reason!"

Best P4P

Pacquiao has also improved through the years of demolishing Mexican fighters and his climb in weight divisions, said Strauss.

"Most observers would have to say that Manny has much improved over the years, and continues to do so. Not surprisingly, he is more of a complete fighter now. He isn't just a fast, relentless big left-handed puncher. Now, his foot work is better, and he has an excellent jab and right hook," he said.

In addition, the WBC lightweight champ also has his accuracy as another great asset.

"When rushed, he can throw short, powerful punches that have all of his body behind them, landing with tremendous effect right on the button. Just ask (Juan Manuel) Marquez or (David) Diaz."

Strauss mentioned de la Hoya's good jab. But this, he immediately explained, has not been used often and could be taken advantage of by the quicker Pacquiao.

"Oscar's got a very good jab as well, but as previously mentioned, he doesn't always use it, so that will obviously be a key to this fight. Since he is a natural left hander, it follows he has a very good left hook, a punch Manny could easily run into when attempting one of those rushes I mentioned. Speed will be the difference when it comes to this strategy. Edge Manny," said Strauss.

In the end, the analyst laid down several possibilities.

"What if the expected occurs, and the Golden Boy is victorious? What has he really accomplished, other than to beat a much smaller man and earn a big payday? Will it add to his legacy as a great fighter? Maybe, but it will depend on how he wins," he said.

As for Pacquiao, he had this to say: "On the other hand, if Manny loses, does it really diminish his status as a great P4P fighter? The answer is probably not. If he wins, boxing will be talking about him for a long, long time! Winner Manny."

Boom Boom Bautista KOs Mexican challenger in 2nd round

Cebu City - After a sluggish start, super bantamweight Rey "Boom-Boom" Bautista smashed Mexican challenger Eden "Anestesista" Marquez via technical knockout in the second round to retain his WBO title at the Cebu City Waterfront Hotel & Casino Saturday.

Bautista first decked Marquez with a right straight 1:11 minutes into Round 2.

The dizzy Mexican stood up at the eighth count, and then suffered another knockdown after receiving a hard right hook to the head.

This forced referee Bruce McTavish to stop the bout just over a minute remaining in the second round. It was Bautista’s 26th win in 27 fights.

Early in the fight, Bautista started slow, throwing just a couple of punches against the aggressive Marquez.

He, however, turned the tables at the second round to post his third successful defense of his WBO title.

Before facing Marquez, Bautista has already defeated two Mexican warriors while defending his regional belt. He won against Antonio Meza via unanimous decision last Dec. 8 and knocked out Genaro Camargo in the second round of their battle last April 6.

Earlier Donnie "Ahas" Nietes knocked down Nicaraguan challenger Eddy "Torito" Castro in the second round of their 12-round championship fight.

Nietes rocked Castro with a perfect left hook to the jaw, sending the challenger down with his back flat on the canvass.

It was Nietes first title defense since he won the crown from Thai pugilist Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym September 30 last year.

The defense improved Nietes record to 23-1-3, with 14 knock outs. Castro, meanwhile, absorbed his fourth loss in 17 fights.(abscbnNews.com)

Jamaica's Usain Bolt could be the greatest sprinter of all time

Jamaica's Usain Bolt could easily become the world's greatest sprinter of all time after breaking world records in both the 100M and 200M track and field events. He is the first ever to break world records in both events in the same single event in the 2008 Beijing Olympic games. With these new world records, it will take a long long time for anyone to break or surpass them. For now, these are simply incredible!

Usain Bolt (born 21 August 1986) holds world and Olympic records in both the 100 metres and 200 metres, with times of 9.69 seconds and 19.30 seconds respectively. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, he became the first man in history to break both world records at one Olympics, and the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to win both races at the same Olympics. His name and achievements in sprinting have earned him the media nickname "Lightning Bolt".[3]



Jamaica's Usain Bolt celebrates winning the gold and setting a new world record in the men's 200-meter final during the athletics competitions in the National Stadium at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing on Wednesday, Aug. 20.



Jamaica's Usain Bolt poses next to a scoreboard after winning the gold and setting a new world record in the men's 200-meter final during the athletics competitions in the National Stadium at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing on Wednesday, Aug. 20.

AJ Banal - the much-touted successor of Pacquiao ended up in a nightmare

They all loved to say of Alex John Banal that the celebrated young boxer would be the immediate heir to the country’s boxing superhero Manny Pacquiao.

That was before the numbing nightmare inside the New Cebu Coliseum last Saturday.

Now, all those who sank with AJ in the 10th round of his fight for an interim world title against an unheralded Panamanian would not even hasten a guess if Banal could still qualify as bag boy or errand boy of the great Pacman.

There was paralyzing disbelief after Banal, who took control of the fight early and was threatening to dominate, tottered and sank senseless by the ring post in the 10th round.

His handlers, led by the Villamor brothers Edmond and Edito, were hollering and desperately ordering AJ to spring back, rise, get up as referee Raul Caiz Jr. tolled the KO count.

* * *

No way. Grand and luminous like a brand-new luxury international vessel as AJ had loomed before the maiden championship voyage, the poor fighter was pitifully reduced into a damp paper boat.

The failed trip to ultimate stardom was so tragic Banal collapsed a second time on his way to the dugout.

It’s easy to say that, more than from sheer exhaustion, AJ sank again upon realizing the great number of believers who came running to the coliseum and ended up damned victims of the boxing disaster.

* * *

Banal, for sure, must’ve felt like that dumb ship captain who foolishly drove the Titanic against a killer iceberg out there in the ocean—and next woke up to realize it was too late.

Indeed, the Banal fight for the WBA interim super flyweight title opened like a daydream. He had a perfect start, was landing crisp combinations as he followed orders from his corner.

Banal was counterpunching perfectly against the charging Rafael Concepcion who was labeled El Torito or Baby Bull.

* * *

For some moments in the first half of the bout, Banal indeed appeared like he just would’ve to go through the formalities of a coronation.

He looked overqualified to finish off an outmatched foe.

Actually, the bout had started to shape up like a punching picnic for the celebrated Banal—until Concepcion gallantly waded through the hail of punches and dug a couple of big blows to the body.

This came in the third round.

No, the Panamanian did not hit the jackpot, but that all-revealing incident in the third opened great possibilities of a hard-won stoppage.

* * *

It would indeed not be easy because, as Concepcion explained after the victory, he had to surpass himself to survive the punishment from his sharp-punching foe.

Naturally, there were various expert reviews, including one which claimed Banal had overtrained.

Maybe but, more than possible burnout, it was dumb, inferior training which led to the Saturday nightmare inside the steamy Cebu Coliseum.

In the first place, it was not an infant bull, but a fully mature warrior Banal faced.

Worse, this seasoned bull decided to gore Banal where he could not take it—around the belly.

* * *

Banal was trained to be the better boxer, and he looked it for most of the bout.

Concepcion had to practically walk through a wall in order to win.

He may not be the better boxer but he was the stronger, more solid warrior.

In the final analysis, it can also be said that Concepcion stole victory because he had the better corner.

His chief handler, Hector Roca, readily shifted tactics after his fighter fell an easy prey to Banal’s sharp counterpunching.

Roca ordered Concepcion to go down and shift the attack to the body.

The reason is simple: you cannot effectively counter blows to the body without exposing part of your belly.

Meanwhile, Banal’s cornermen could only stare in awe as Concepcion gallantly dug deeper in the succeeding rounds.

* * *

What would ultimately be exposed was this secret nightmare inside Banal’s (Bazooka) bubble gum belly.

He had succeeded in concealing this until the third round against Concepcion.

The hideous result was history in reverse: Lapu-Lapu being shocked and stopped by Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan.

The full-house crowd, including Games and Amusements Board staffers who took over the working space reserved for media people, visibly felt they had entered the wrong theater.

They came to witness an epic featuring a native warrior but ended up shocked, paralyzed.

They all sank with the unprepared Filipino boxing dreamboat. (Source: Bare Eye by Recah Trinidad)

Zerna humbles Reyes; Alcano also tumbles

UNHERALDED Ricky Zerna stunned pool maestro Efren “Bata” Reyes, 9-4, in the second round of the First Senate President Manny Villar Cup Bulacan Leg Saturday at the Event Center of SM City here.

Zerna, a member of the Negros Billiards Stable of businessman Jonathan Sy, displayed superb pocketing and great control of the cue to beat the man regarded as the best cue artist ever and inch closer to the coveted Villar Cup and the P300,000 top purse.

“I’m very very happy,” said the 26-year-old pride of Dumaguete City in Filipino It’s truly a distinct honor to beat the world’s best player.

“I hope to sustain my rise and play even better to realize my dream of becoming a champion,” added Zerna, conqueror of Richard Pornelosa, 9-7, in the opening round of the series presented by Villards: Tulong sa Pagsulong ng Philippine Sports and supported by Camella Communities.

Zerna will next face former world No.1 Francisco “Django” Bustamante, who notched his second straight win by beating reigning national champion Lee Van Corteza, 9-6.

After splitting the first four racks, Zerna took advantage of a couple of miscues Reyes committed to pocket six of the next seven racks for an 8-3 lead.

Reyes stole Zerna’s break of the 12th rack to score his fourth point, but his rally proved to be short-lived as the 54-year-old Magician broke dry in the next frame and Zerna sank and tough-angled two-nine combination to seal the biggest upset in the event organized by the Billiards Managers and Players Association of the Philippines (BMPAP).

“It’s really difficult to win nowadays because there are so many good players,” said Reyes in Filipino. “Bai (Zerna) and Jomar are good. They will go places.”

Former two-time world champion Ronnie Alcano is also out of the running after yielding to hometown bet Egie “Marilao” Geronimo, 9-7, in their opening round encounter Friday.

Geronimo, the 30-year-old mainstay of the star-studded Bugsy Promotions of businessman Perry Mariano also stunned Reyes, 9-1, in their match in the Villar Cup Cebu leg last June.

Geronimo was playing 2007 World Pool runner-up Roberto Gomez at presstime of the event supported by Puyat Sports, Bugsy Promotions, Negros Billiards Stable and ER Cues.

Rival Ateneo, La Salle crush respective foes

WHATEVER PLANS OF AN upset the Maroons of University of the Philippines had yesterday were crushed with impunity early by a flock of soaring Ateneo Blue Eagles.

Ateneo stamped its dominance right in the opening quarter, ripping the game wide open there on the way to dealing the Season 71 hosts an 83-66 beating in the 71st UAAP men’s basketball competition at the PhilSports Arena.

Just like in the their previous wins, the Eagles turned to their strong inside game to build an early advantage. This time, though, it was much-hyped rookie Ryan Buenafe who took charge by pumping in 17 points to power the Eagles to their fourth straight triumph in as many matches.

“We’re quite happy that we took care of business today,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black. “We came in with a business-like attitude. We really didn’t want to stumble today, so we came in and played good defense.”

In the second game, La Salle overcame an early scare for a 93-69 triumph over winless National University to claim solo second at 3-1.

Peejay Barua came to the Archers’ rescue by knocking down 17 points in the first half—15 coming from beyond the arc—to turn an unexpected 12-21 deficit into a 46-36 advantage at the break.

“We had a flat start especially coming from a hard game against UST; aside from that, there’s the mid-term exams this particular week, so probably that’s why we were just sleepwalking in the first quarter,” said coach Franz Pumaren after the defending champions streaked to their third straight win.

“It’s a good thing Barua gave us a shooting clinic,” Pumaren added.

Barua, a veteran 6-foot-2 swingman, finished with a career-high 26 points built around a scorching 75 percent shooting clip from the field.

Biggest margin
Rico Maierhofer also came out big with 16 points on top of 13 rebounds, two steals and two blocks in just 16 minutes of action.

An 8-0 start in the third quarter gave the Archers a 54-36 margin that stretched to as many as 30 points, 87-57, late in the fourth period.

Rabeh Al-Hussaini contributed 13 markers and seven boards for the Eagles, while Eric Salamat added 12 points.

“Going into this game, there were a couple of things we wanted to do,” said Black. “We wanted to play them even on the boards, we know that’s really their strength.

“They’re a very good offensive rebounding team,” he explained. “We also wanted to control their perimeter shooting. That was really our focus. Offensively, we wanted to run as much as we could, get as many fastbreak points as we could.”

The 6-foot-2 Buenafe, a cousin of Coca-Cola rookie Ronjay Buenafe, unloaded 11 points in the third quarter to put the Eagles ahead by 18 points, 70-52.

“His performance has been speaking for itself,” said Black of last season’s NCAA junior MVP. “He’s a rookie but he doesn’t really play like a rookie. He plays with a lot of maturity. He’s a high-percentage player.”

Sizzling percentage
Hitting a sizzling 57.7 percent from the field in the first half, the Eagles took an early big lead at 43-29.

Buenafe, Al-Hussaini, and Jai Reyes combined for 13 markers in the opening minutes, 13-11, before Chris Tiu fired eight straight markers to give the Eagles their first double-digit advantage, 21-11, with two minutes left in the first period.

Salamat, who also contributed three assists and two steals, capped the decisive 10-0 run Tiu started to extend the Eagles’ edge to 23-11.

By the second half, the margin grew to 20 points at 74-54 as the Ateneo reserves took over the scoring chores.

The Maroons absorbed their third straight blowout loss after a surprise opening-day triumph over the Bulldogs, who remained winless in four outings after failing to sustain a strong start against the Archers.

Meanwhile, action resumes today with Far Eastern University and University of the East eyeing a share of second place when they face separate foes at the PhilSports Arena.

The Tams have the dangerous assignment as they take on the Santo Tomas Tigers at 4 p.m., while the Warriors battle the Adamson Falcons at 2 p.m.

The scores:

First Game
ATENEO 83—Buenafe 17, Al-Hussaini 13, Salamat 12, Tiu 11, Salva 6, Baclao 6, Austria 4, Nkemakolam 4, Long 4, Reyes 4, Baldos 2, Gonzaga 0, Chua 0, Burke 0, Sumalinog 0.
UP 66—Reyes 12, Braganza 12, Lopez 8, Co 8, Sison 7, Agbayani 7, Sorongon 6, Astorga 4, Marfori 2, Fortu 0, Gamboa 0, Hipolito 0.
Quarters: 25-15, 43-33, 70-52, 83-66

Second Game
LA SALLE 93—Barua 26, Maierhofer 16, Villanueva 8, Mendoza 8, Mangahas 8, Batricevic 5, Webb 4, Casio 4, Walsham 3, Chandumal 3, Bagatsing 3, Lee 3, Ferdinand 2, Revilla 0, Malabes 0, Atkins 0.
NU 69—Asoro 14, Jahnke 13, Berry 8, Baloran 8, Aguilar 6, Catamora 6, Batac 5, Garcia 4, Galapon 3, Ponferrada 2, Tungkul 0, Magat 0, Fabula 0, Dela Cruz 0, Luy 0.
Quarters: 22-24, 46-36, 70-48, 93-69

RP's Paeng Nepomuceno posts 3rd Guinness record in bowling

Six-time world bowling champion Paeng Nepomuceno was honored for the third time by the Guinness Book of World Records, this time for having won the most number of career championships worldwide.


Nepomuceno racked up his 118th career title last September in Melbourne, winning the South Pacific Classic, Australia’s most prestigious individual tournament. Nepomuceno prevailed over Jason Belmonte, last year’s World Tenpin Masters Champion.

That victory gave Nepomuceno the distinction of having three existing Guinness Records.

For winning in Melbourne, Nepomuceno was honored last January 3 at the Malacañang Palace by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who conferred on him the Order of Lakandula with the Special Class of Champion for Life.

The Hall of Famer’s first Guinness Record was for winning four World Cups in three different decades (70’s, 80’s and 90’s). His second Guinness distinction was in recognition of his feat as the youngest to win a world title at age 19.

“This is a great honor and I’d like to share it with all my countrymen," said Nepomuceno. “Whenever I compete, my countrymen always give me great support, which gives me great inspiration to always do my best."

Nepomuceno was congratulated again by the Guinness World Records Management Team and welcomed to the select club of World Record-holders in an accompanying letter.

In November 1999, Nepomuceno was awarded the International Olympic Committee President’s Trophy, the highest award for sports made especially significant because bowling is still not recognized as an Olympic sport.

In the same year, Nepomuceno was named by the World Bowling Federation’s Athlete of the Millennium.

In 2003, Nepomuceno was recognized by the Bowler’s Journal International as “the Greatest International Bowler of All Time" and became the first athlete to be enshrined in the International Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum in St. Louis, Missouri, where his seven-foot image is displayed at the museum’s entrance.

Nepomuceno, who still actively competes up to this day, is the only bowler in the world who has won titles in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. (GMANews.TV)

Tiger Woods to become the first billionaire athlete

Tiger Woods is on course to become the first billionaire athlete with the popular U.S. golfer proving a marketing dream, according to Forbes Magazine.

Woods, who won the U.S. Open last month despite a bad knee, is on track to exceed $1 billion in career earnings by 2010 after earning $115 million in 2007, said the American magazine which publishes an annual list of the world's richest people.

Forbes in Wednesday's edition said it would take 32-year-old Woods a bit longer to actually pocket that amount as taxes and management fees eat into his prize and endorsement money.

The calculation was based on Woods' estimated earnings in the annual rich list dating back to 1996, when he turned pro, and also credited the world number one golfer with annualized investment returns of 8 percent.

"Based on those criteria, we project Tiger Woods should join our list of the world's billionaires in 2011," said the magazine. "It will be an unprecedented occurrence."

The magazine said there are plenty of billionaires who have excelled at sports, like Switzerland's richest man and champion sailor Ernesto Bertarelli, but no billionaires who have accumulated their fortune by playing sports.

Woods has been a sports marketing phenomenon.

A golf prodigy as a child, his recent U.S. Open victory was his 14th major championship and he has won 50 tournaments on the PGA Tour faster than any player.

But prize money only accounts for about a tenth of his earnings with the rest coming from lucrative endorsement deals signed by the exceptionally popular player with companies that include Nike, Buick and Gillette.

Sports drink maker Gatorade recently launched a new line of drinks called Gatorade Tiger.

The magazine said Woods would earn about $90 million in endorsement contracts this year. Over the course of his career, he has earned more than $750 million from such deals.

Woods is not playing again this season after undergoing knee surgery a few weeks ago.

Lionheart Nadal dethrones Federer in Wimbledon epic

LONDON -- Rafael Nadal dethroned five-time champion Roger Federer as king of Wimbledon on Sunday with an epic 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-7 (8/10), 9-7 win in one of the greatest Grand Slam finals of all time.

The Spaniard, who had squandered two match points in a nerve-shredding fourth set tie-breaker, added a first All England Club title to his four French Opens, shattering Federer's dreams of an historic sixth successive Wimbledon trophy.

Victory made the 22-year-old Nadal only the third man to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same season, and the first since Bjorn Borg in 1980, while giving Spain its first men's champion here since Manolo Santana in 1966.

The win also ended Federer's six-year, 65-match winning streak on grass.

At four hours and 48 minutes, it was the longest final in Wimbledon history beating the 4:16 it took Jimmy Connors to beat John McEnroe in 1982 and ended in murky Centre Court darkness at 2116 local time (2016GMT).

Nadal shrugged off a rain-enforced 35-minute delay to the start to break first to lead 2-1 with Federer desperately chasing the Spaniard's power-packed forehands.

The 22-year-old then fought off a break point in the next game to back up his advantage which stretched to 4-2 as the Spaniard edged the world No. 1 in some brutal exchanges in tricky, gusty conditions on Centre Court.

Nadal unleashed a 96mph forehand to claim the opening set, the first set Federer had dropped in the 2008 tournament.

The 26-year-old Swiss star shook off his inhibitions to sneak to a 3-0 lead in the second set before Nadal battled back from 1-4 down to open up a two-set lead when Federer netted a simple-looking backhand.

Nadal saved a break point in the fourth game of the third set and four more in the sixth as the London skies and Federer's mood darkened.

The top seed saved three break points to lead 4-3 and was 5-4 ahead when heavy rain sent the players off court for 80 minutes.

On the resumption, a reborn Federer grabbed the third set with an ace in a tense tiebreak before serve dominated the fourth set leading to another tiebreak.

Nadal went to 5/2 in the breaker but the champion stormed back to lead 6/5 and claim a set point which Nadal saved.

Incredibly, Federer then saved two match points and grabbed another set point at 9/8 before levelling the final when Nadal, stunned by his failing nerve, went long with a forehand.

At 2-2 in the final set, more rain caused a 30-minute suspension.

On their return, Nadal saved a break point in the eighth game while Federer fought off two in the 11th and three more in the 15th but cracked to give the Spaniard an 8-7 lead.

Nadal went to a third match point which was saved with an inch-perfect backhand.

An unreturned serve gave him a fourth match which he converted to victory when Federer netted a backhand (Agence France Presse)

Roger Federer eyes 6th straight Wimbledon crown

WIMBLEDON, England - Add up all of Roger Federer's greatness on grass courts, and the numbers are striking: 40 wins in a row at Wimbledon, 65 overall on the surface.


Now he seeks an additional victory, a victory that would make him the first man since the 1880s to win six consecutive Wimbledon titles, a victory that would give him a 13th Grand Slam championship, one shy of Pete Sampras' career record.

And a victory that would have to come against his only real rival in today's game, Rafael Nadal.

No. 1 Federer and No. 2 Nadal set up their third straight showdown in the Wimbledon final, and sixth meeting in a major title match, by handily beating unseeded opponents Friday. Federer eliminated Marat Safin 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-4 in the first semifinal, and Nadal defeated Rainer Schuettler 6-1, 7-6 (3), 6-4.

"There's one more left," Federer said. "I don't think it matters really a lot if I'm the favorite or not. I'm on an incredible winning streak on grass. First somebody has to be able to break that before we start talking differently."

He reached his 16th Grand Slam final, tying him with Bjorn Borg for fourth most in history. Borg was the last man to win Wimbledon five years in a row. The only man with six successive titles was Willie Renshaw from 1881-86, but he merely needed to win one match in each of his five title defenses because back then the reigning champion got a bye directly into the final.

"A little different," Federer noted.

On the other hand, the ease with which Federer dominates the All England Club these days sort of makes it seem as though he's getting a pass to the second Sunday. For the second time in three years, he's reached the final without losing a set.

"He didn't even give me a chance," said Safin, a former No. 1 with two major titles.

Federer walked out in his custom-designed cream cardigan, the one with the gold "RF" on the chest. Safin, in contrast, looked as though he might have just rolled out of bed, emerging from the locker room with his T-shirt wrinkled, his sneakers untied, his hair mussed. During the third set, a woman in the crowd yelled, "Come on, Safin, wake up!"

Federer did plenty well, but he served impeccably.

He smacked 14 aces, took 70 of 90 points in his service games and faced only two break points. Both came with Safin leading 2-1 in the second set, and Federer erased them in similar fashion: a second serve delivered right at Safin's body, setting up short returns that led to forehand winners.

Federer's return game was working, too, and he broke Safin in the match's second game and its last one. Asked if it was easy out there, Federer said, "Easy in terms of being able to control a really dangerous player who's got the potential to upset anyone — in this aspect, yes."

One example: Safin beat No. 3 Novak Djokovic last week. It was Djokovic who ended Federer's record run of reaching 10 consecutive major finals by stopping him at this year's Australian Open, then wondered aloud before Wimbledon whether the Swiss star was slipping. Djokovic thought Federer's 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 loss to Nadal in last month's French Open final — his worst loss in 179 career Grand Slam matches — might have left him "a little bit shaken."

Federer has scoffed at such suggestions and did so again Friday.

"For me, anyway, that final is out of the picture. I hardly remember anything of it. It went so quickly," he said, without a trace of irony. "Yeah, for me it's not really that big of a problem."

He also alluded to the fact that while he is only 6-11 against Nadal — 0-3 in French Open finals — over their careers, Federer does lead 5-2 in matches played on surfaces other than clay. That includes victories in the 2006 and 2007 Wimbledon finals, the latter a taut, five-set thriller.

That is why, Nadal acknowledged, "I believe I can win, but I also know he's the favorite."

Like Federer, Nadal faced only two break points Friday, and while the Spaniard did get broken once, he never was in true trouble. Thanks to that break, the 94th-ranked Schuettler went ahead 2-1 in the second set, then served for it at 5-4.

But Nadal broke the 2003 Australian Open runner-up there to pull even, and that was pretty much that. The only thing that really bothered Nadal on this day was the condition of his shoes, which he said were worn out from too much running around on the bare earth where the grass has disappeared near the Centre Court baselines. A member of Nadal's entourage tossed a fresh pair onto the court from the stands, and Nadal was back to his usual perpetual motion.

Afterward, Nadal spoke of how a Wimbledon championship would change his career. He'll try again, just as he did each of the past two years, to beat Federer to become the first man since Borg in 1980 to win the French Open and Wimbledon in the same season.

"It doesn't matter at any tournament who you beat. It matters that you get to take the trophy home," Nadal said. "But beating Federer would be special."

Borg showed up at the All England Club in 2007, and watched Federer match his modern mark of five consecutive titles. Borg returned this year and sat in the second row of the Royal Box on Friday, rising to clap when Federer finished off Safin to close in on breaking that tie.

"He is still hungry to win. He is still the No. 1 player in the world, and he wants to win more Grand Slam tournaments. He still has motivation to win. I think he will play many more years to come," said Borg, who walked away from the game in his 20s. "Sooner or later someone will beat him here at Wimbledon on Centre Court, but that might not happen this year." - AP

Pacquiao enters history books after he defeats Diaz

LAS VEGAS -- Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines connects with a right against a bloodied WBC Lightweight titleholder David Diaz of the United States at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on June 28 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao made history by becoming the first Asian to hold four titles at different weight divisions and the first Filipino to hold the Lightweight crown. AFP PHOTO
-------------------------------------------------

Jot down Manny Pacquiao's name in the pages of boxing's history book.

The Filipino ring icon, effectively controlling the match with his right jab, ended David Diaz's reign with a crisp left shot to win the WBC lightweight belt via an astounding knockout at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao snapped Diaz's head with a mean right jab, moved in closer to his opponent and unleashed a 1-2 capped by his powerful left that sent the Mexican-American down.

Referee Vic Drakulich waved the fight off at the 2:24 mark of the round.

Leading on the scorecards by a mile (Inquirer had the new champion up, 78-64, entering the ninth), Pacquiao decided to put the pressure on Diaz, who surprised the Filipino with a granite chin that took a lot of beating.

"I gave a lot of power shots and he's still standing," an amazed Pacquiao told a television interviewer. "I [was] very surprised that Diaz was so tough. He's the toughest opponent [I've faced]."

Even more amazed was Diaz, who was hoping to stretch the match into the late rounds, where he is more comfortable fighting.

"I was saying 'he doesn't hit that hard' and all of a sudden I was on the floor and what the heck," a gracious Diaz said.

"He was f****ng fast," Diaz said. "I didn't see [the left hand] coming."

But the left hand was just part of the whole package.

In a brilliant show of boxing skills all night, Pacquiao controlled the match effectively with solid, head-snapping right jabs that kept Diaz at bay.

Pacquiao got the surprise of his life after the match when the NBA champions Boston Celtics visited him at the dugout. Pacquiao had predicted the Celtics to win in six games and the world champions repaid that faith by watching the match and cheering for him.

"I'm his No. 1 fan," Kevin Garnett, standing beside Pacquiao, said.

With Garnett were Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, two members of the Big Three, and the likes of Rajon Rondo and Sam Cassell.

Pacquiao went to work early, controlling the first three rounds behind the jab before the left started to find its mark starting the fifth.

Diaz was in trouble in the eighth as Pacquiao twice had him reeling against the ropes. The Chicago-raised boxer kept bleeding out of his right eyebrow, but said the cut never bothered him.

"I kept telling the doctors that I could see perfectly," Diaz said. "At the end of the day, he caught me with a good shot and you just have to say that he was the better man."

Pacquiao's lightweight conquest comes after wresting the WBC super featherweight crown from Juan Manuel Marquez last March.(Roy Luarca; INQ.net)

Pacquiao up against a big hitter

LAS VEGAS—Never underestimate David Diaz’s punching power.

This was the stern warning issued by Jim Strickland on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) after Diaz, the World Boxing Council lightweight titlist, and Manny Pacquiao did the traditional walk-in at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino here.


The 78-year-old Strickland, who’s worked with the likes of former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield and middleweight king Mike Mcallum, said that early in his amateur career Diaz’s reputation was that of a big hitter.

Strickland said he saw the former Golden Gloves champion bowl over several opponents although their paths didn’t cross until Diaz’s 13th pro fight.

They’ve been together ever since and Strickland never regretted his decision to take in the fighter who once quit boxing to attend to his ailing mother and a brother, who eventually died of AIDS.

“On a scale of one to 10, I’ll give him a 9 as far as work ethic is concerned,” said Strickland. “There’s a lot of fighters who work hard, but he’s right there among super champions who work harder most consistently.”

Describing Diaz as a blue-collar fighter, Strickland said his ward feels he can beat anybody, Pacquiao included, in the ring.

“He’s never intimidated. He’s most calm when fighting big-name opponents,” said Strickland.

Diaz promised in a separate interview to do what it takes to retain his crown.

“If my trainer wants me to go through a wall, I’ll go through it. If it’s a big wall, I’ll chip away.”

Strickland knows that Pacquiao is a big wall and has given Diaz explicit orders.

“Try to match him (Pacquiao) whatever he does from the first round on. Engage him blow by blow.”

But if needed, Strickland has fallback instructions for Diaz “to box if we needed to.”

Diaz, with a lone loss to Kendal Holt and a lone draw in 35 fights, said “the best-conditioned fighter will win and it will boil down to a good old traditional fight.”
(Roy Luarca; INQ.net)

Diaz fight plan: Mirror Pacquiao style

SANTA MONICA—If David Diaz is to be believed, the relentless barrage with which Manny Pacquiao normally overwhelms foes to submission is exactly what the Filipino will have a taste of during their World Boxing Council lightweight duel on June 28 (June 29, Sunday in Manila).

“Pressure,” Diaz said, reiterating a game plan based on the belief that Pacquiao normally takes pauses after unloading punches with his blinding hand speed. “(I plan to) just go out there and apply more pressure.”

The 32-year-old Diaz believes that those Pacquiao pauses will give him the chance to let the Filipino champion have a taste of his own medicine, citing the fact that he feels he is in better shape than the reigning WBC super featherweight king.

Diaz, in fact, has lost count of the rounds of sparring he completed against four partners in Chicago’s JABB Gym.

“Maybe a thousand,” Diaz said in jest. “But I did 6, 10, 12 rounds at least three times a week.”
Meanwhile, promoter Bob Arum has joined the list of people who believe the “Pacman” is going to be stronger as a lightweight than as a super featherweight.

Arum cited as an example Miguel Cotto, who became a more effective fighter after bulking up to 147 and joining the welterweight ranks.

Arum, chief of Top Rank which is putting together the “Lethal Combination” card, said Pacquiao has been struggling to make the 130 lb in his past two fights.

And the weight struggles, Arum believes, may have been the reason why both fights—although victories—failed to produce a knockout.

“He depletes himself” trying to make the weight, Arum said.

Arum, though, believes Diaz stands a chance as long as he sticks to his game plan. Diaz is a 4-1 underdog in the fight. (Roy Luarca; INQ.net)

Cautious Pacquiao will try to KO Diaz

HOLLYWOOD—There’s no guarantee of a knockout.

The most Manny Pacquiao can assure his fans is he’ll go for it when he tangles with defending champion David Diaz for the World Boxing Council lightweight crown on June 28 in Las Vegas.
“All boxers want to win by knockout, and both of us will try to do that. But it’s hard to tell what will happen,” Pacquiao told Manila-based sportswriters in Filipino at his unit at the gated Palazzo apartments here.

“I will try to win by KO to give the fans their money’s worth.”
Pacquiao promised plenty of action, though, in the bout dubbed “Lethal Combination” at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

His hair newly cut and his moustache trimmed, Pacquiao said he’s not worried in his first outing in the 135-pound division.

“I have big sparmates and I’m heavier than that (135) when I fight,” he said.
After weighing in at 129 lb, Pacquiao ballooned to 145 when he wrested the WBC super featherweight crown from Juan Manuel Marquez on March 15.

Though he’s not thinking of losing, Pacquiao said he won’t make any excuses in the event of such an upset.

Oddsmakers have installed the Filipino superstar a 4-1 favorite to beat Diaz and become the only Asian to win four world titles in different divisions.

The 29-year-old Pacquiao also held the WBC flyweight title in 1998 and the International Boxing Federation super bantam belt in 2001.

Pacquiao also dismissed the notion that Diaz will be an easy conquest based on the way he beat Ramon Montano, a sparmate of Pacquiao, by decision in the undercard of Pacquiao-Marquez II.
“I’m sure he’ll be in better shape this time,” said Pacquiao. “He just didn’t take Montano seriously. But I’ll be ready for him. Fighting is my business and I want to be in the best shape each time I fight.”

With his weight in check at 139 and feeling fine, Pacquiao—given the go-signal by chief trainer Freddie Roach to take a break—opted to jog around the La Brea park before hearing mass at the Christ the King church.

After eating lunch, Pacquiao rested for three hours and then whiled the time away playing a friendly card game and darts.

Feeling hungry at around 6 p.m., he finished a sandwich before hobnobbing with visitors.
It will be a busy Monday for Pacquiao. After winding up his training at the Wild Card Gym with four rounds of sparring, he proceeds to Santa Monica pier for a joint press luncheon conference with Diaz.

From there, Team Pacquiao will take the four-hour drive to Las Vegas, arriving just before sunset in the city of lights.

Sharapova and Ivanovic looking good for Wimbledon

LONDON (AFP) - Ana Ivanovic and Maria Sharapova are determined to prove that their ruthless tennis packs just as much power as their supermodel looks at this year's Wimbledon.

The two pin-ups of the women's tour, with four Grand Slam titles between them and lengthy multi-million dollar endorsement lists, are seeded to meet in what, for sponsors, fans and the British tabloids, would be the dream final, a battle of the babes.

But Ivanovic, the new world number one and French Open champion, and Sharapova, the 2004 winner here, insist they will not get carried away by the hype over the next two weeks at the All England Club.

Both are focussed on graft, not glamour.

"Just because my game suits grass or just because I feel comfortable on it doesn't mean that a win is going to come easy," said Sharapova.

"There are a lot of big competitors in the draw, different types of players."

Ivanovic, who deposed Sharapova as the world's top player at Roland Garros, believes she also has the game to thrive.

"Grass is a very specific surface. Everything is happening much faster. You have to be much more alert," said the 20-year-old Serbian, who lost to eventual champion Venus Williams in the semi-finals in 2007.

"I think I have very powerful shot, but there are some things I have to improve. I'm trying to come forward more, play some volleys, which is very helpful here."

Whoever triumphs will find their bank balance swelling even further.

Ivanovic has earned just over five million dollars in her career so far, a figure dwarfed by the Russian's 12 million.

But a victory here on July 5 will surely boost the army of corporate callers desperate for an endorsement from the dusky Serbian with the girl-next-door charm.

When Sharapova won Wimbledon as a 17-year-old in 2004, her bank account swelled virtually overnight and, with an estimated 23 million dollars in off-court earnings alone, she is comfortably the world's richest sportswoman.

A Sharapova-Ivanovic final would also provide a fascinating contrast in personalities between Ivanovic, with her permanently sunny optimism, and Sharapova's steely determination.

Both have an ingrained competitive streak forged from the harshness of their childhoods.

Sharapova famously left her mother behind in Russia to make the grade in Florida while Ivanovic practised tennis in an abandoned swimming pool during lulls in the NATO bombing of Belgrade before leaving for Germany.

Sharapova, who beat Ivanovic in the Australian Open final in January for her third Grand Slam title, has not returned to a Wimbledon final since her 2004 triumph over Serena Williams.

She was a semi-finalist in 2005 and 2006 and a fourth round loser to eventual champion Venus Williams last year.

The Russian starts with a first round clash against France's Stephanie Foretz while Ivanovic faces Rossana De los Rios of Paraguary.

Ivanovic's fellow Serbian, Jelena Jankovic, is now the world number two but has never got beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon while Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova, a former US Open champion, can only boast a quarter-final place.

That leaves the intimidating presence of the Williams sisters one of whom at least has featured in seven of the last eight finals.

In 2007, Venus surprised many observers, and probably herself, by winning a fourth singles title and making history as the lowest seeded player (23) to take the trophy.

Little sister Serena has won the title twice although the most recent was 2003.

Three of Venus Williams's four Wimbledon wins have been achieved in the immediate aftermath of a demoralising first week setback at the French Open.

After losing in third round in Paris to Italy's Flavia Pennetta this season, the 27-year-old believes she can again turn the disappointment to her advantage at the All England Club.

"I get extremely upset about the result, and then I work even harder," said Williams.

"Whenever I lose a match, I definitely think about what I need to do better. I think if my opponent can make a shot I can make a shot too."

Pacquiao: "I’m stronger than Diaz"

He may no longer be as light as a super feather, but Manny Pacquiao believes he has become stronger as he climbs boxing’s weight ladder.


Though World Boxing Council lightweight champion David Diaz is naturally bigger, Pacquiao insists he’s inherently stronger and will come out on top of their title showdown on June 28 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.

“I don’t believe that Diaz is stronger than me,” said Pacquiao in a teleconference call on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila). “I believe I am stronger. Moving up in weight is not a problem for me because I will maintain my speed and power.”

To make sure that his edge in speed will remain, Pacquiao said his training at the Wild Card Gym here is geared toward that direction.

“A lot of people feel (the move up in weight) will be difficult, but I believe I will be stronger at 135 pounds… I work in the training camp to maintain my speed.”

Pacquiao said he feels at ease at 135 lb as he can afford to eat more.

One of his main concerns in his bout against Diaz, according to Pacquiao, is possible headbutts that usually occur in clashes between southpaws like them.(Roy Luarca, INQ.net)

Celtics wins 17th NBA title with 131-92 rout of Lakers

AP - Jun 17, 8:58 pm EDT 1 of 60 NBA Gallery BOSTON (AP)—

With Russell and Havlicek sitting courtside, and Red surely lighting up a victory cigar somewhere, these Boston Celtics returned to glory like the great teams before them.


Dominant in every way.
On a new parquet floor below aging championship banners hung in the rafters two decades back, the Celtics won their 17th NBA title and a first one—at last — for Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen—their Big Three for a new generation.

After 22 long years, the NBA has gone green.
Lifted by ear-splitting chants of “Beat L.A.” early and cries of “Seven-teen” in the closing seconds by their adoring crowd, the Celtics concluded a shocking rebound of a season with a stunning 131-92 blowout over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 on Tuesday night.

“It means so much more because these are the guys, the Havliceks, the Bill Russells, the Cousys,” Pierce said. “These guys started what’s going on with those banners. They don’t hang up any other banners but championship ones.

With the outcome assured, Boston fans sang into the night as if they were in a pub on nearby Canal Street. They serenaded the newest champs in this city of champs, and taunted Kobe Bryant and his Lakers, who drowned in a green-and-white wave for 48 minutes.

Garnett scored 26 points with 14 rebounds, Allen scored 26 and Pierce, the finals MVP who shook off a sprained right knee sustained in Game 1, added 17 as the Celtics, a 24-win team a year ago, wrapped up their first title since 1986.

Rajon Rondo had 21 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and six steals as the Celtics, who built a 23-point halftime lead and obliterated the Lakers, who were trying to become the first team to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the finals.

They didn’t stand a chance.

Boston’s 39-point win surpassed the NBA record for the biggest margin of victory in a championship clincher; the Celtics beat the Lakers 129-96 in Game 5 of the 1965 NBA finals.

In the final minute, Pierce doused Celtics coach Doc Rivers with red Gatorade. Owner Wyc Grousbeck, who named his group Banner 17 to leave no doubt about his goal, put an unlit cigar in his mouth—a tribute to Auerbach, the patriarch who had a hand in the franchise’s first 16 titles.

Garnett dropped to the parquet and kissed the leprechaun at center court and then found Russell, the Hall of Famer who taught him the Celtic way, for a long embrace.

“I got my own. I got my own,” Garnett said. “I hope we made you proud.”

“You sure did,” Russell said.

Rivers pulled Pierce, Garnett and Allen with 4:01 left and they shared a group hug with their coach, who was nearly run out of town last season. Rivers lost his father at the beginning of this remarkable run, a season no one expected.

By the time Rivers was handed the Larry O’Brien Trophy, it was June 18—his late father’s birthday.

When the game clock reached zeros, Rivers reflected on his dad.

“My first thought was what would my dad say,” Rivers said, “and honestly I started laughing because I thought he would probably say, if you knew my dad, `It’s about time. What have you been waiting for?”’

It’s was Boston’s first title since the passing of Auerbach, whose presence was the only thing missing on this night. Even Auerbach, who died in 2006, got some satisfaction. Led by Rivers, Auerbach’s beloved team denied Lakers coach Phil Jackson from overtaking him with a 10th championship.

The Boston-Los Angeles rivalry, nothing more than black-and-white footage from the 60s and TV highlights of players wearing short shorts in the 80s to young hoops fans, remains tilted toward the Atlantic Ocean. The Celtics are 9-2 against the Lakers in the finals.

Boston missed its first crack at closing out the series in Game 5, but the Celtics didn’t miss on their second swing, running the Lakers out of the gym.

Bryant, the regular season MVP, finished with 22 points on 7-of-22 shooting.

He started 4-of-5 from the field and seemed intent on forcing a Game 7. But he missed seven shots in a row and everywhere he went, L.A.’s No. 24 ran smack into a wall of Boston defense as high as the Green Monster.

“They were definitely the best defense I’ve seen the entire playoffs,” Bryant said. “I’ve seen some pretty stiff ones and this was right up there with them. The goal was to win a championship, it wasn’t to win MVP or anything like that, it was to win a championship.”

Garnett and Allen were All-Stars in other cities, stuck in Minnesota and Seattle, respectively, on teams going nowhere. But brought together in trades last summer by Celtics general manager Danny Ainge, a member of the ‘86 Celtics champions, they joined Pierce and formed an unbreakable bond, a trio as tight as the club’s lucky shamrock logo.

They resisted being called The Big Three, a nickname given to Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish two decades ago.

“This is the reason we came here,” Garnett said. “This is the reason we got together, and Danny made it go down. This is it right now.”

With Garnett scoring 17 points and Pierce adding 10, Boston built a 58-35 halftime lead, and unlike Game 2 when they let the Lakers trim a 24-point lead to two in the fourth quarter before recovering, the Celtics never stopped.

They pushed their lead to 31 in the third, and with Boston still up by 29 after three, plastic sheets started going up in the Celtics’ locker room in preparation for a champagne celebration.

No team had to work harder for a championship than these Celtics, who were playing in their record 26th postseason game after being pushed to seven games by Atlanta and Cleveland before taking care of Detroit in six to win the Eastern Conference title.

They entered Game 6 slowed by injuries as Pierce, Kendrick Perkins (shoulder) and Rondo (ankle) were less than 100 percent. There was also uncertainty surrounding Allen, who stayed behind in Los Angeles following Game 5 after his youngest son became ill and was diagnosed with diabetes. The Celtics needed three planes to get back from L.A. and didn’t get home until late Monday night.

But there were no excuses, and just as they had while winning 66 games during the regular season, the Celtics got plenty of help from their bench as P.J. Brown, James Posey, Leon Powe and rookie Glen “Big Baby” Davis came in and contributed.

It was a group effort by this gang in green, which bonded behind Rivers, who borrowed an African word ubuntu (pronounced Ooh-BOON-too) and roughly means “I am, because we are” in English, as the Celtics’ unifying team motto.

The Celtics gave the Lakers a 12-minute crash course of ubuntu in the second quarter.

Boston outscored Los Angeles 34-19, getting 11 field goals on 11 assists. The Celtics toyed with the Lakers, outworking the Western Conference’s best inside and out and showing the same kind of heart that made Boston the center of pro basketball’s universe in the ’60s.

House and Posey made 3-pointers to put the Celtics ahead by 12 points and baskets by Pierce, Garnett and Rondo put Boston ahead by 18.

In the final minute, Garnett floated in the lane, banked in a one-handed runner and was fouled. His free throw made it 56-35, and after Perkins scored, the Celtics ran to the locker room leading by 23.

On his way off the floor, Garnett screamed, “That’s that.”

And so it was.

Notes

The Lakers had won their previous eight straight Game 6s in the finals. … Since the finals began in 1947, 16 have gone seven games, the most recent in 2005 when San Antonio had to go the distance to beat Detroit. … It was the second biggest margin in finals history behind Chicago’s 96-54 win over Utah in 1998. … The Celtics went 48-7 at home, including 13-1 in the postseason.

Pacquiao claims pound-for-pound No. 1

When Manny Pacquiao fights David Diaz on June 28, he will carry with him the awesome reputation as the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter.

Formerly ranked No. 2 by FightFan.com, the Filipino ring icon was elevated to the top on Sunday following the retirement of former topnotcher Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Saturday.
The Filipino ring superstar also used to hold Ring Magazine’s pound-for-pound honor.
Pacquiao, the reigning World Boxing Council titlist, is seeking Diaz’s WBC lightweight belt at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

A victory over Diaz will make the GenSan superstar the first Asian to hold four crowns in different divisions and the first Filipino to rule the 135-pound category.

The 29-year-old Pacquiao, also acclaimed as the world’s best fighter in 2006, made his professional debut at 106 lb in 1995 and has been fighting top boxers since 2003.

Among Pacquiao’s prominent victims are Mexican greats Marco Antonio Barrera, whom he beat twice, and Eric Morales, whom he defeated twice in their fight trilogy.

Pacquiao beat World Boxing Organization British super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe for the honor.

Another Mexican, Juan Manuel Marquez, from whom Pacquiao wrested the super featherweight crown in March 15 also in Las Vegas, was rated No. 3.

Mexican WBC super bantam champion Israel Vasquez came in fourth, followed by unbeaten Puerto Ricans Miguel Cotto, the WBA welterweight champion, and Ivan Calderon, respectively.
Ranked from seventh to 10th were Bernard Hopkins, Kelly Pavlik, Winky Wright and Rafael Marquez.

Meanwhile, Diaz turned 32 on Sunday in his hometown in Chicago, where he has been in training at the JABB gym since last month.

Nadal beats Federrer for 3rd time in French Open Finals

PARIS -- Rafael Nadal defeated Roger Federer in the French Open final for the third year running on Sunday and joined Swedish legend Bjorn Borg as the only man to win four straight titles at Roland Garros.

The Spaniard scored a stunning 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 triumph over the world No.1, taking the last nine games of the match, in stark contrast to the two four-set battles he edged to see off Federer in the two previous finals.

Federer was powerless to stop the barrage of heavy top spin fired at him as he slumped to a demoralizing hiding. If he was a rapier, Nadal was a sledgehammer and in that match-up there was only ever going to be one winner.

Nadal has now won all 28 matches he has played at Roland Garros and having just turned 22, he is well on his way to replacing Borg as the greatest claycourt player of all time. He did not drop a set all fortnight.

"Sorry for Roger, but to win here is incredible and especially to win this tournament four times," he said after receiving the trophy from the hands of six-times winner Borg.

"I didn't expect a match like this, but I played an almost perfect match and Roger made more mistakes than usually.

"But I am still the number two and closer to the number three than the number one."
For 26-year-old Federer it was another dark day in the City of Light.

He came into Paris looking to join the history-makers as just the sixth man to have won all four Grand Slam titles. He leaves with the sorry record of being the only player in Grand Slam history to lose to the same player in three consecutive finals.

"I would like to have won more than four games but Rafa has played an incredible tournament and he fully deserves to win," he said. "But I'll be back to try again next year and I am looking forward to the rest of this year."

Perfect playing conditions greeted the start of the match but clear crowd favorite Federer got off to the worst of possible openings when he dropped his serve and then squandered two break points in the following game.

He saved two break points to open his account in the third game, but muscleman Nadal stepped on the accelerator reeling off four games in a row with two more service breaks to take the set 6-1.

Nadal, wearing the lime-green shirt he has favored throughout the fortnight, opened the second set with a love service game and then promptly broke Federer for the third time in a row as the world No.1's famed forehand badly misfired.

There was then a brief moment of hope for Federer's many fans as he nailed his first service break of the final and leveled at 2-2.

Attacking the net with more regularity, Federer got the crowd going when he had a break point on the Nadal serve to lead 4-3, but failed to take it when he ran down a deft drop shot but could only net the return.

He paid a heavy price in the following game when he let slip a 30-0 lead and Nadal gleefully grabbed a vital break on his fourth break point. The Spaniard comfortably served out for a two sets to love lead.

There was no respite for Federer from the pounding and he promptly dropped his serve to open the third set trudging off disconsolately for the changeover.

Nadal was in total command bludgeoning Federer with his groundstrokes when he stayed back and rifling his passing shots beyond him when he came into the net.

A sixth break of serve in the third game and Nadal was home and dry at 4-0 ahead having won seven games in a row against a demoralized opponent.

The end to Federer's misery came two games later when the Swiss star hit long under pressure from another powerful Nadal forehand.

It was the second-most lopsided French Open final ever after that of 1977 when Brian Gottfried won just three games off Guillermo Vilas.

Both players will now head for the grass of Wimbledon where Federer can turn the tables on Nadal by beating him in the final for the third straight year, if the seeding is proved to be accurate.

"I am going to look forward to grass and hopefully the second half of the season will be better than the first," he said. "Losing this way today will not have a big negative effect on me."

Ivanovic beats Safina in straight sets to win French Open

By HOWARD FENDRICH, AP Tennis Writer Jun 7, 2008

PARIS (AP)—At last, Ana Ivanovic overcame her stage fright.

In two previous major finals, Ivanovic was so overwhelmed by the setting, so shaken by the stakes, that her focus fell apart and her shots went awry.

Not on this day.

Already assured of rising to No. 1 in the rankings for the first time, Ivanovic collected Grand Slam title No. 1 by beating Dinara Safina 6-4, 6-3 in the French Open final Saturday.

Rather than erasing the memories of those lopsided losses in championship matches against Justine Henin at Roland Garros a year ago and against Maria Sharapova at the Australian Open in January, Ivanovic used the bitterness to help her.

“Many, many people ask me, ‘Oh, you want to forget last year’s final?’ But I don’t, because it was a great learning experience,” said Ivanovic, a 20-year-old from Serbia.

She won only three games against Henin, then eight against Sharapova, and said of the latter defeat: “I had a few sleepless nights after that.”

But in the months since, Ivanovic realized this: Part of her difficulty in those matches rested with either looking ahead—“Hey, maybe I can actually win this thing,” she was thinking against Henin—or looking behind—failing to put a few key points out of her mind against Sharapova.
Ivanovic lost two consecutive matches on clay before coming to Paris, and she knew she had to change something. She credits her strength and conditioning coach, Scott Byrnes, with helping find what she called a “tool” to make sure she stays focused on the court.

And it couldn’t be simpler: Take the time to pause and breathe.

“My personality is I tend too much to think about what will be, and try to think too much in advance, which is definitely not too good,” Ivanovic said. “So I found that breathing helps me to go back in a moment and just enjoy that very moment.”

That’s what carried her through the tightest of times against the 13th-seeded Safina, the younger sister of two-time major champion Marat Safin.

In the men’s final Sunday, No. 1 Roger Federer will meet No. 2 Rafael Nadal in their third consecutive title match at Roland Garros. Nadal seeks a fourth French Open championship, and Federer is hoping to complete a career Grand Slam.

Ivanovic was a point from taking a 5-1 lead in the first set when Safina showed some spark, using a running forehand winner and a swinging volley winner to get to break point. Ivanovic then dumped a forehand into the net, and 10 minutes later, when Safina smacked a backhand winner down the line, suddenly the score was 4-all.

“It was tough, because a lot of emotions build up inside,” said Ivanovic, who was seeded No. 2 behind Sharapova at the French Open but will pass her in Monday’s rankings. “All of a sudden, you’re equal again. So to keep my composure at that point—it was huge for me.”

In the very next game, Ivanovic broke back with a backhand winner of her own, then pumped her fist and let out one of her many yelps of “Hajde!” (sounds like “HIGH-deh!”)—Serbian for “Come on!”

There were more tests to come.

Trying to serve out the first set, Ivanovic faced two break points, and squandered a set point, before closing it out with her signature shot, a forehand. That was part of a run in which Ivanovic took five of six games to go ahead 3-1 in the second set.

Peru's Luis Horna, left,and Ur… AP - Jun 7, 1:21 pm EDT

The final instance in which nerves might have come into play was in the seventh game of the second set, a 20-point tussle in which Ivanovic wasted two break points and Safina blew five game points. Adding to the tension, Safina kept backing out of her serving motion because the sobs of a child crying in the upper deck could be heard throughout the stadium. Eventually, Safina held to cut Ivanovic’s lead to 4-3.

Potentially uplifting for Safina. Potentially deja vu for Ivanovic.

“Mental games out there today,” Ivanovic said.

She remembered to stop and breathe and played with aplomb down the stretch, winning eight of the next nine points to end the match.

“Once you are on the court—it’s much easier said than done—but you have to be a killer,” Ivanovic said through a wide smile. “You have to put them under pressure and show your presence and stuff.”

It might have helped Saturday that the recently retired Henin was in the front row in a red jacket, not on the court wielding a racket.

Peru's Luis Horna, right, and … AP - Jun 7, 1:20 pm EDT

Safina sure can wallop the ball, but she’s hardly as complete a player as four-time French Open champion Henin, and never made it past the quarterfinals at any Grand Slam tournament until this one.

Nonetheless, Safina was trying to become the first woman to win a major title after having saved a match point against two opponents. Against both Sharapova in the fourth round, and No. 7 Elena Dementieva in the quarterfinals, Safina trailed by a set and 5-2 in the second set, then was a point from losing at 5-3, before coming all the way back to complete the upsets.

Those were part of a 12-match winning streak Safina carried into Saturday, including six victories over top-10 opponents.

“This time? I tried,” Safina said, “but I didn’t have any more of that fire.”

When it was over, Ivanovic stood on a line judge’s chair to climb into the stands for hugs and kisses with her parents, her brother and other supporters.

She spoke afterward about the days when she rode her bicycle to practice, thinking of being a champion one day. Those dreams might have seemed far away when, growing up in a war-torn land, Ivanovic honed her tennis skills in the winter by practicing on the floor of a drained indoor swimming pool.

This is the second consecutive Grand Slam tournament with a champion from her nation of 7.5 million people. Novak Djokovic won the men’s title at the Australian Open.

“I said, ‘Come on, he could do it—I could do it, too.’ So it’s something that for sure motivates,” Ivanovic said, “and I hope also many young kids will get inspired from us.”