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The Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Vasyl Lomachenko's five best fights as modern great retires
Vasyl Lomachenko shocked the boxing world yesterday by announcing his retirement from boxing at 37. The Ukrainian had a short but hugely successful pro career, becoming the fastest fighter ever to be a three-weight world champion, doing so in just 12 fights. He also amassed arguably the greatest amateur record of all time, 396-1, claiming two Olympic gold medals along the way. To honour the career of one of the best pure boxers the sport has ever seen, here are Lomachenko's five best wins as a professional. Guillermo Rigondeaux December 19, 2017, Madison Square Garden – Lomachenko faced another amateur legend and two-time Olympic Champion - Guillermo Rigondeaux. Rigondeaux came into the fight having not lost since 2003 as an amateur, but had moved up two weight classes to face Lomachenko. It was clear that Lomachenko, eight years younger, would be too much for Rigondeaux from the opening bell. His speed, strength and dynamism going forwards were more than even the Cuban defensive master could handle. The Cuban champion was unable to put any shots together against the WBO champion, who was able to anticipate anything coming his way and extinguish the fires with ease. The fight ended before the seventh round as Rigondeaux retired on his stool, claiming an early hand injury stopped him from continuing. But this was the fourth consecutive opponent of Lomachenko's who said ' no mas '. At the time of the retirement, all three scorecards were in favour of the Ukrainian, 59-54. 59-54 and 60-53. Jorge Linares May 5, 2018, Madison Square Garden – Having sought out new challenges at lightweight, Lomachenko took on the WBA lightweight champion Jorge Linares. On fight night, the Venezuelan found initial success in punching with Lomachenko to stem the flow of his volume punching, but the former super featherweight champ's footwork allowed him to get in and out of range before any of Linares' counters could meaningfully land. Lomachenko suffered the first real setback of his career in the sixth round as he got perhaps too comfortable entering Linares's range and got caught with a well-timed right hand that put him on the canvas. He beat the count but was saved by the bell before Linares had the opportunity to follow up. The fight was a stalemate on the scorecards in the tenth round. But this would not matter as Lomachenko pushed Linares back to the ropes and landed a body shot that dropped the WBA champion to one knee. He beat the count, but the referee chose to end the fight in the tenth, giving the Ukrainian a world title in his third weight division. Luke Campbell August 31, 2019, The O2 – It was another battle of the Olympic gold medallists as 'Loma' travelled to the UK to fight Luke Campbell. Campbell had a mixed run as a pro up to the Loma fight, having been beaten twice already, but had an amateur pedigree that meant you could never write him off. The opening rounds were cagey as the much taller Campbell attempted to keep Lomachenko at the end of his jab, but what some mistake for Campbell getting the better of his opponent is the Ukrainian downloading all of Campbell's reactions, movements and habits before taking over. That is exactly what he did, gliding around Campbell, landing hooks to head and body at will, then pivoting away at an angle – boxing for the purists. Lomachenko had Campbell hurt at the end of the fifth round, landing a flurry of hooks, and as Campbell looked ready to drop, the bell sounded. But the writing was on the wall, and the champion knew how to get to his opponent. He once again breached the defences of Campbell in the eleventh, but there was no bell to save him this time, and he got dropped by a right hook. He made it up before the count, but Lomachenko won a wide decision, 119-108, 119-108 and 118-109. Gary Allen Russell Jr June 21, 2014, Carson – After losing a controversial split decision to an overweight Orlando Salido for the WBO super featherweight title in his second professional fight, Lomachenko would get another shot in his next fight against the unbeaten but unproven Gary Allen Russell Jr. Russell Jr's game plan was clear from the outset; he wanted to outpunch 'Loma'. But as any great fighter does, the Ukrainian adjusted on the fly to nullify Russell Jr's fast combinations, absorbing them on the gloves or simply making him miss. Lomachenko was landing the more effective and eye-catching work through the middle rounds, making Russell Jr look lost at times with his hypnotic footwork. The American could not keep up or make any changes to turn the tide, highlighting the gap in quality between the two Lomachenko's body work came home to roost in the championship rounds as Russell Jr began to fade and was hurt on multiple occasions. Despite a mysterious 114-114 draw on one scorecard, the Ukrainian came home to win a majority decision with 116-112 on two scorecards and claim his first world title. Nicholas Walters November 26, 2016, Las Vegas – Lomachenko took on what was supposed to be the toughest test of his career against an avoided power puncher in Nicholas Walters, who was unbeaten in 27 fights with 21 knockouts. Many thought that Walters would have the ingredients to give Lomachenko serious problems. His wide, bladed stance and powerful hooking should have made it more difficult for Lomachenko to pivot around him and unload combinations. But on the night, the WBO super featherweight champion proved he had still not shown his true potential. His upper body movement made him impossibly elusive, bobbing and weaving, then springing back with attacks at previously unknown angles to Walters. Credit to Walters, who changed his game plan, moving down to hook the body more in the sixth round. But as quickly as he adjusted, Lomachenko had it covered before the round was even over. Outgunned and outmatched, Walters retired in the seventh round and would not fight again until 2023.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Britain's most prestigious rowing club which has scores of Team GB athlete members is 'plunged into rape scandal'
Britain's most prestigious rowing club, which has produced legions of Olympic champions over the last century, has been rocked by claims it failed to investigate multiple claims of rape and sexual assault. At least three male rowers are understood to have been accused of raping female club members within the last five years at the club in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. The world-famous establishment is considered a 'global leader in rowing', according to Leander Club's website, which adds that members have secured 159 Olympic and Paralympic medals since 1908 - with 62 of these being gold. Among the damning allegations levelled at the club, as revealed by The Telegraph, are that: A man raped a female squad member in 2022 and was allowed to continue rowing A second man was suspended and then excluded following a harassment claim against him. He was readmitted on appeal and later accused of rape by a different female rower A third man was accused of raping a female rower, who was then forced to participate in a two-week training camp with him Female squad members, backed by more than a dozen of the male rowers, say allegations of sexual assault were ignored or dismissed by the Leander committee. They also accused the club of cultivating a culture of sexism and misogyny. One of the rape allegations, reported in April 2023, related to an incident said to have occurred during a team night out, at a flat in Henley. The woman, who was 18 at the time, is understood to have spoken to Leander Club and Thames Valley Police. But she subsequently failed to give a formal statement to police and later withdrew her complaint. According to sources, the woman had found the process too 'stressful and traumatising', but the situation did not end there. The accused man, who denies any wrongdoing, was allowed to 'train, eat and socialise in the same room as the victim', according to a letter of complaint subsequently sent to the club on October 23, 2024. Eighteen female and 15 male club members urged Leander to investigate 'multiple, serious allegations' against the individual 'as a matter of urgency'. Less than two weeks later, on November 6, 2023, chairman Pete Bridge and welfare representative Keith Settle informed members that the matter had been investigated but there was 'insufficient evidence' to progress it to a disciplinary. Despite a male witness and several women volunteering to provide evidence, none were spoken to before the investigation was closed, it is claimed. The female victim is understood to have left Leander following the incident. In a second claim, a male rower is accused of having harassed a female club member. He was suspended, but was allowed to return under appeal. Another rower then claimed this same individual had previously raped her, but it is believed this allegation was not brought to the attention of the club or the police. The man denies any wrongdoing. With his appeal still standing, the women's team reacted by boycotting training, before wearing pink instead of traditional white vests when they returned. They also wore white ribbons as a symbol of solidarity with victims of sexual abuse and rape. In a third instance, a male rower was accused of rape by a female club member in 2020. It is understood that after complaining to the club, she then had to attend a two-week training camp with the man she had accused. Despite the allegations becoming 'common knowledge' among the rowers, members were said to have been left aghast by an after-dinner speech given in 2022 by a veteran club member. The individual is understood to have made remarks of a sexual nature and referred to his penis during the speech. Many club members say they have been left feeling uncomfortable and unsupported by Leander in the wake of such accusations. One told ITV News: 'It's really triggering and makes people not feel safe. We didn't even want there to be men in the gym at the same time as us. We didn't want to represent the same club as people who've been accused of things like that. 'We wanted to say "we're not okay with it, we stand together as a will not stay silent.' Another said: 'Anyone with talent is protected in the system. People think [rowing' is elitist and it's privileged. 'If you have enough money, enough status, if you're good enough at sport, it's okay. 'We were failed by the very system that was supposed to protect us.' In a statement, Leander said: 'Leander Club takes seriously all issues relating to the safeguarding of our athletes. 'We have strict procedures in place to carefully examine any formal complaints and regularly review our club disciplinary processes to ensure they are fit for purpose, treating our athletes fairly and with respect. 'In addition to an updated code of conduct, we have partnered with a specialist external provider to ensure members of the club know without doubt the standards we expect and the ways to highlight any individual misconduct. 'When issues are raised, we will continue to take immediate action where necessary to protect the welfare of our athletes.' Mr Bridge, the Leander chairman, added: 'The athletes in our squads are at the heart of this club. 'When safeguarding issues arise, as with any organisation, there is a strict and confidential process that is followed to protect those involved. 'We continually review our safeguarding measures and have updated these in line with our ambition to ensure rowing is inclusive and accessible for the next wave of athletes pursuing their dreams of international sporting success.' Leander's extensive cohort of champions include Sir Steve Redgrave, Sir Matthew Pinsent, James Cracknell, Victoria Thornley and Lola Anderson.
CBC
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Watch the Diamond League track & field meet from Rome
2025 World Athletics Wanda Diamond League: Rome Live in 1 day Social Sharing Click on the video player above beginning on Friday at 3 p.m. ET to watch live action from the Diamond League track and field meet in Rome, Italy. There will be no shortage of star power at the Diamond League circuit's latest stop, the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea in Rome. The Stadio Olimpico will host 14 events that will award Diamond League points and the lineup includes 11 Olympic champions, 15 Diamond League champions, and a total of 62 medallists from the Olympics and world championships. Here are some of the key events to watch for when the event begins in the Italian capital on Friday at 3 p.m. ET on and CBC Gem: Men's 100m The start list for this contest includes Tokyo Olympic silver medallist and Paris 2024 bronze medallist Fred Kerley of the United States, as well as fellow Americans Trayvon Bromell, Courtney Lindsay, and Brandon Hicklin. The 4:38 p.m. ET race will also feature Italy's Filippo Tortu and Chituru Ali, Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya, Japan's Abdul Hakim Sani Brown, and Cameroon's Emmanuel Eseme. Watch all the action from Diamond League in Rome beginning on Friday at 3 p.m. ET on and CBC Gem. Click here for the full broadcast schedule. This season's world lead in the 100 is held by American Kenny Bednarek, who ran to a time of s 9.86 seconds at the Grand Slam Track stop in Philadelphia last weekend. Bednarek joined Trackside hosts Perdita Felicien and Aaron Brown this week to talk about his newfound confidence, Grand Slam Track's success so far, and his goals for this season. WATCH | Kenny Bednarek joins Trackside: Kenny Bednarek on newfound confidence, success in Grand Slam Track 1 hour ago Duration 8:46 The American sprinter discusses what has led to his improved 100m, Grand Slam Track's success so far and his goals for this season. Women's discus This event begins features two double Olympic champions, Valarie Allman of the U.S. and Croatia's Sandra Elkasevic-Perkovic. Also competing are three world champions: American Laulauga Tausaga, Cuba's Yaimé Perez, and China's Feng Bin. Italy's Daisy Osakue, Germans Kristin Pudenz and Marike Steinacker, Jorinde Van Klinken of the Netherlands, and Sweden's Vanessa Kamga will also be in action. Women's 5,000m Two world record holders headline the field of 18 runners in the women's 5,000m (3:31 p.m. ET): Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay owns the fastest time in the 5,000 (14:00.21), while Kenya's Beatrice Chebet has the record in the 10,000 (28:54.14). Men's 400m A trio of Olympic champions will compete in the men's 400m in Rome: Paris 2024 winner Quincy Hall of the U.S., London 2012 champion Kirani James of Grenada, and American Vernon Norwood, who's a two-time Olympic gold medallist in the 4x400m relay. Also lining up for the 3:59 p.m. ET race are South Africa's Zakithi Nene, Botswana's Collen Kebinatshipi, Belgium's Alexander Doom, Great Britain's Charlie Dobson, Hungary's Attila Molnar, and Italy's Edoardo Scotti. For more information on athletics events streaming live on CBC Sports this season, click here to see the full broadcast schedule.
New York Times
01-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
How West Germany won the 1954 World Cup: Herberger tactics, injured Puskas, group stage mind games?
This is the fifth in a series on The Athletic looking back at the winners of each men's World Cup. The previous four articles have looked at Uruguay in 1930, Italy in 1934 and Italy again in 1938, before Uruguay themselves won it for a second time in 1950. So it's about time someone else stepped up… There are two clear examples in World Cup history of the most exciting team at the tournament, and the neutral's favourites, being foiled by West Germany in the final. The most obvious example is the Netherlands in 1974, but two decades beforehand, Hungary experienced almost exactly the same thing. Advertisement If anything, it was even more egregious because this legendary Hungary side had previously destroyed West Germany 8-3 in the group stage — a huge victory, even by the standards of a World Cup that featured a record goals-per-game tally of 5.38. At that point, there seemed little chance anyone would stop the Olympic champions Hungary, let alone the Germans. But this was a remarkable triumph for West Germany, less than 10 years after the end of the Second World War. It was the first tournament they'd entered since then, having been banned from FIFA leading up to World Cup 1950. While overt demonstrations of nationalism had been avoided going into the tournament, the shock success (half the teams were seeded going into the tournament, and West Germany weren't among them) brought a newfound sense of national pride as West Germany rebuilt itself after the war. A talented striker who played three times for his country, Sepp Herberger is perhaps more notable for having served in both World Wars, although according to his own testimony he was never involved in armed conflict. In keeping with other German managers in the 20th century, he served as assistant before becoming the outright manager, leading Germany at World Cup 1938, and then having a 14-year second spell in charge from 1950 onwards. Herberger was both a good tactician and a canny man-manager. He used to motivate his players by reading out critical press reports from back home, telling them to prove journalists wrong. He thought as much about which players should room together as he did his side's formation. He was variously depicted as both a strict disciplinarian and also an emotionally intelligent father figure to the players. When he returned home after the tournament, he found that his home had a new address — he now lived on 'Sepp-Herberger-Strasse'. The WM formation was on the way out. Hungary were the poster boys for the shift away from that system. But Herberger was canny too, and his approach for that final was first and foremost based around stopping Hungary. West Germany's formation in the final started to resemble something like the systems we would recognise in the modern era, with left-half Karl Mai performing a man-marking job on Sandor Kocsis and ending up as more defender than midfielder. Kocsis had scored 11 goals in the tournament, but was relatively quiet in the final. The job of tracking Nandor Hidegkuti — whose drifts into deep positions had flummoxed England in Hungary's famous 6-3 win at Wembley the previous year — was handed to midfielder Horst Eckel rather than a defender. In turn, captain Fritz Walter and Max Morlock played deep and were regularly involved in build-up play. There was an impressive level of fluidity in the side, with right-winger Helmut Rahn tending to stick to his role, but the others rotating within matches. Rahn was an explosive and unpredictable winger, somewhat out of keeping with what Herberger wanted from his players. His quality, though, was impossible to ignore and he scored twice in the final, when Herberger encouraged his players to attack down the flanks rather than through the middle. Advertisement But the most-discussed element of Herberger's tactics was his team selection for the 8-3 group stage defeat to Hungary, where he made seven changes from the opening day win over Turkey. Clearly, this was not a tactical decision in the traditional sense, and there was such anger from the hordes of travelling German supporters that some called for him to resign midway through the tournament (not an entirely unlikely concept — in this World Cup, Scotland manager Andy Beattie resigned after his side's first game). What was the reason for his selection? It seems clear Herberger was resting his best players as he didn't think his side had much chance of beating Hungary. Some suspected he was also trying to engineer his side coming second in the group, to be on the easier side of the knockout stage bracket. And, once West Germany had prevailed in the final, the story became that Herberger had fielded a weakened side to lure Hungary into a false sense of security. Maybe that was the outcome, but was it really the intention? While centre-halves had been the dominant figures in international football before the Second World War, their retreat into central defence meant the inside-forwards became the stars in the middle part of the 20th century. This West German side was no different. Fritz Walter, whose brother Ottmar played as the side's centre-forward, was a prodigiously talented inside-left who was adored by Herberger, who gave him special treatment and handed him the captain's armband. This was despite Walter coming in for particular criticism in the years before this success, especially after a 3-1 loss to France in 1952. He offered to retire from the national side, but Herberger insisted he remained the side's main man. That paid off in 1954. Although criticised for his sluggishness in the group stage, he came alive in the 2-0 counter-attacking quarter-final victory over Czechoslovakia, and scored two penalties in the 6-1 semi-final win against Austria. But it was about more than just goals — he was the side's creative force, roughly their equivalent of Puskas. Advertisement Walter had contracted malaria during his time as a prisoner of war, and found it difficult to play well in hot conditions. Most of World Cup 1954 was not to his liking, but in the final week the temperatures cooled, and the final was played on a damp day. Walter was the first person to be awarded honorary citizenship of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate — the award has never been handed out again. West Germany tended to come on strong in the second halves of matches. Immediately after the tournament, plenty of credit was given to cobbler-turned-entrepreneur Adi Dassler — the founder of Adidas — for designing innovative new boots featuring screw-in studs, allowing the players to choose short or long ones according to the weather, supposedly a major advantage when the conditions changed midway through the final. But there may have been a less glamorous explanation. After the final there were reports of used syringes being found in the West Germany dressing room. The team officials insisted the players had been injected only with vitamin C, an explanation later ridiculed by medical experts, who said it would have been no more effective than eating an orange. Several players contracted jaundice in the aftermath, experienced further health problems, and many later admitted receiving injections at the tournament. Investigations into this continued for over half a century. A 2013 report from Humboldt University suggested the syringes contained methamphetamine, as detailed further by The New York Times. A genuinely thrilling game that featured two goals for either side in the first 20 minutes. Both continued to play good football, until the game was won in the closing minutes. The real story was that Puskas was back in the Hungary side for the first time since getting injured against West Germany in the group phase, and despite not being fully fit, he opened the scoring with a calm finish after a loose ball in the box fell his way. Hungary quickly made it two after a terrible mix-up between left-back Werner Kohlmeyer and goalkeeper Toni Turek. But 2-0, of course, is a dangerous lead. Max Morlock got one back with — it must be said — the third scrappy goal of the game, turning home a deflected cross. Then Rahn arrived at the far post to fire home a deep corner, after Hungarian goalkeeper Gyula Grosics tried to claim, but was blocked off by Hans Schafer. Grosics always claimed he was fouled, but by the standards of 1950s refereeing it's not a surprise the goal was given. Hungary had the better chances. Hidegkuti hit the post, Kocsis headed against the bar, Turek made some fine saves, and Kohlmeyer made up for his earlier error with a couple of goal-line clearances. Comprehensive statistics aren't available, but it's fair to suspect that Hungary won on the xG. In West Germany, the defining moment was Rahm's winner in the 84th minute, when he surprised the Hungary defence by cutting inside onto his left foot and firing into the far corner — a goal that feels very modern in this age of inverted wingers. In Hungary, the defining moment came in the 86th minute, when Puskas squeezed home what he thought was an equaliser, only to be denied by an offside flag from Welsh linesman Sandy Griffiths. There are no clear television pictures to show whether the decision was correct. Advertisement But maybe the defining moment came in the group stage meeting between the sides, when Puskas was kicked in the ankle by German centre-back Werner Liebrich — the third time he'd attempt to foul Puskas — which meant he missed the subsequent games up until the final, when he played despite clearly being short of 100 per cent fitness. No. The final was Hungary's only defeat in a long run of 49 matches. They'd thrashed the (second string) West Germany side 8-3 in the group stage. They'd defeated the two 'finalists' from World Cup 1950, Brazil and Uruguay, 4-2 in quarter-final and semi-final respectively. They'd coped for most of the tournament without Puskas, the world's best player. Throw in the doping allegations, and Hungary's loss must be considered one of football's greatest injustices. Hungary never made it past the quarter-finals again, and on their most recent three appearances — 1978, 1982 and 1986 — didn't make it past the group stage. The boost to West Germany shouldn't be underestimated, both in pure footballing terms and as an important moment of renewed optimism in the post-war period. Few others around the world, though, shared their joy. (Top picture: Getty Images, design Eamonn Dalton)
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Las Vegas Aces Deal A Winning Hand In Home Opener To A Full House Of Fans
The Las Vegas Aces kicked off their home season in style, delivering a winning game to a full house of excited fans decked out in Aces gear and pink A'One sneakers. Fans filled Michelob Ultra Arena inside Mandalay Bay on the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and brought their energy and excitement for the team's first home game of the 2025 WNBA season. Advertisement After a tough start against the Washington Mystics, the Aces got the win in the dramatic last few seconds of the game. Friday Night In Las Make It Aces-Style! The Blast | Melanie VanDerveer The first home game of the Aces season is in the books and a winning one at that! The Aces pulled off a thrilling 75-72 victory over the Mystics on Friday night, staging a late-game comeback with just seconds before the final buzzer. Down 72-66 with a minute left in the game, the Aces proved to their fans that nothing will hold them down. A clutch performance from Jackie Young tied the game and with just under 2 seconds left in the game, Jewell Loyd delivered a game-winning three-point shot with an assist by A'ja Wilson. Advertisement The sold-out crowd erupted in applause and excitement! And to make it more magical, it was the Aces 27th consecutive sold out crowd! Center Court Ceremony For Being Part Of Team USA 2024 The Blast | Melanie VanDerveer Before the game began, four Aces players were brought center court to receive recognition for being part of the 2024 Olympic Champions. Wilson, Young, Chelsea Gray, and Loyd each received a commemorative ring for contributing to Team USA's gold medal victory over France at the Paris Olympics in summer 2024. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the day before the ceremony, Wilson said, "Obviously the gold medal is (enough) for us. So, yeah, the ceremony is gonna be cool, but we know the biggest ceremony of them all is making sure that we get a win tomorrow." Advertisement Gray added, "'I had no idea. I'm happy. I mean, it's a lot of hard work that we dedicated to our craft to be able to even have a chance to get a ring. So I'm excited for that.' A'ja Wilson Hits Big Milestone During The Aces' Home Opener During the Aces' home opener, Wilson hit an exciting milestone - 500 career assists. Fans shared their excitement over the career milestone on the team's Instagram page. "A'JA WILSON IN TOP TOP TOP!" one fan wrote. Another added, "She can't be stopped - stopped - stopped." Another great milestone of the evening was selling out the arena for the first game of the season. A'ja Wilson's Signature Shoe Was Seen All Around The Arena! The Blast | Melanie VanDerveer Wilson's first signature shoe was officially released on May 6, 2025 and it didn't take long for fans to get a pair. That was proven just looking around the arena and seeing the hot pink shoes all around - on players and fans alike. Advertisement Of course, Wilson had a pair on, as well as some of her teammates. Fans of all ages were decked out in Nike A'One shoes and shirts from the A'One collection. Nike A'One, Wilson's first signature shoe, makes her the first-ever Las Vegas Aces player and only the 12th WNBA player in history to release a signature shoe, and fans are clearly loving it! The Blast Was In Attendance For The Aces Home Opener The Blast was at Friday night's game for all the excitement - from warmups to that last second winning basket. Vegas fans are high-energy, ready for wins and proudly decked out in team gear to show their love for their home team. Advertisement The arena was full, with all ages represented. In fact, there were so many children loving every second of the game, with many wearing Aces gear and A'One sneakers. After the game, Wilson took the time to sign some of the kids' shoes before leaving the court. From start to finish, this game experience was top tier entertainment like only Vegas knows how to do. An electrical halftime show from Photon Krew, a high-energy, tech-driven LED dance crew based in Vegas, as well as performances from the team's High Rollers and the Wild Card Crew dance team kept fans entertained. Next up for the Aces - Sunday, May 25, the Aces face the Seattle Storm in Seattle. Friday, May 31, the Aces go up against the LA Sparks at home, and Sunday, June 1, they'll play the Storm again in Seattle. See the full schedule on their website.
