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Petecio, Paalam want another crack at Olympic gold
Back as Southeast Asian Games featherweight champ, Pinay boxing ace Nesthy Petecio is determined to book a return trip to the Olympics and upgrade the silver she previously won in Tokyo......»»
3-time OOM champ back in LPGT hunt
After being out of competitive play the last couple of years, Cyna Rodriguez is back on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, joining the chase in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic presented by MORE Power unfolding March 15 at the Marapara Golf and Country Club course in Negros Occidental......»»
3-time OOM champ returns in LPGT, joins ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic
After being out of competitive play the last couple of years, Cyna Rodriguez is back on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, joining the chase in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic......»»
I won t back down: Loman welcomes call-out from ONE bantamweight champ Andrade
Right after being named champion as he beat former titlist John Lineker via corner stoppage, Andrade pointed to Loman as his next foe......»»
Arellano beats defending champ LPU for early lead in CCE Season 2
The Chiefs, who tested LPU in their championship run in Season 1, pulled off the victory in a back-and-forth battle against the Pirates led by match MVP Andrei "Yui" Sideno......»»
Super Swerte eyes back-to-back
Racing fans are in for a big treat this Sunday as some of the top gallopers in the land slug it out for the P2-M Philracom Chairman’s Cup at the Metro Manila Turf Club in Malvar, Batangas. Super Swerte, recently crowned Commissioners’ Cup champ, and 2020 Presidential Gold Cup winner Pangalusian Island, lead a strong […].....»»
US Women s Open champ Saso gets pat on the back from idol McIlroy
McIlroy, a four-time major champion and a former world No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking, was the blueprint for Saso's swing as the teen used to watch the former's videos on YouTube to fine-tune her game......»»
Hungry Donaire out to turn back clock vs WBC bantamweight champ Oubaali
Eager to bounce back from his loss to Naoya Inoue in his last fight back in 2019, Donaire is bringing a rejuvenated version of himself to try to take the belt from the French pug......»»
TNC Predator repeats as DOTA2 Asia Pacific Predator League champ
TNC Predator took payback after being relegated to the lower bracket by their compatriots, defeating fellow Neon Esports, 2-0, to become back-to-back Predator Shield champions.....»»
Tabuena back as champ, wins ICTSI Eagle Ridge by 2
Miguel Tabuena broke a mediocre run of form with a two-stroke victory in the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Challenge on a closing 68 Friday......»»
Filipino karate champion hopes to score bounce-back win in ONE Championship
Gonzales, who is also coming from a loss himself in his last bout last year, is aiming to get back on his feet against Indonesian wrestling champ Eko Roni Sapatura in ONE: Inside the Matrix II......»»
Former ONE champ Kevin Belingon becomes a father
Former ONE Bantamweight World Champion Kevin "The Silencer" Belingon is now a father! The Team Lakay star and his wife Lee welcomed a baby girl into the world on August 18th, and "The Silencer" made shared the wonderful news on social media. The 32-year old Belingon last saw action back in October of 2019, coming up short in his attempt to reclaim the ONE Bantamweight World Championship against reigning titleholder Bibiano Fernandes at ONE: Century in Japan. Belingon dethroned Fernandes for the title back in 2018, before losing it via Disqualification in March of 2019. When Belingon returns to action, whenever that may be, you can bet that "The Silencer" will have extra motivation to return to the win column. Just last month, fellow Filipino world champion Brandon "The Truth" Vera also became a father, welcoming a baby boy. .....»»
Interim WBA champ Jamal James eyeing Manny Pacquiao
The list of names looking to challenge Filipino eight-division boxing world champion Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao seems to be getting longer, and the latest addition to that list is American welterweight Jamal James. The 32-year old Minneapolis native owns an impressive 27-1 pro record with 12 of those wins coming via KO. Last August 8th, James earned his first taste of world championship gold by defeating Thomas Dulorme by unanimous decision to become the interim WBA Welterweight World Champion. Now, James is looking to drop the 'interim' tag by going after the big names, and right now, the biggest name with a WBA world title is none other than Pacquiao. "Obviously, I would like to get a shot at Manny Pacquiao, he's got the WBA super title," James told BoxingScene.com. The 41-year old Pinoy boxing icon captured the WBA (Regular) Welterweight World Championship back in 2018 and then defeated the previously-undefeated Keith Thurman to become the WBA (Super) Welterweight World Champion in 2019. Right now however, it looks like Pacquiao is eyeing big name fights, and James isn't exactly at that level yet. James himself understands this, but being the interim champion means he's next in line, so he'll take whoever he can get. "But I know he's such a big name, so it really doesn't matter. I want any of the big name welterweights, we can really put on a good show," James said. Both James and Pacquiao fight under the Premier Boxing Champions promotion. Over the last few months, Pacquiao has been discussed a lot by a number of big name welterweights including Terence Crawford, Errol Spence Jr., Mikey Garcia, Thurman, and even junior welterweight Josh Taylor. Most recently, he's been linked to a possible superfight with MMA star Conor McGregor. For now however, it's unclear when Pacquiao makes his return to the ring, although a 2020 fight isn't out of the realm of possibility. .....»»
Iranian heavyweight Amir Aliakbari calls out Filipino-American champ Brandon Vera
Reigning ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon "The Truth" Vera need not look far for willing challengers. The Filipino-American heavyweight king is expected to defend his title against Indian-Canadian challenger Arjan Bhullar in the future, but already, challengers are lining up and calling the champ out. One of them is newly-signed Iranian heavyweight Amir Aliakbari. The 32-year old former World Champion Greco-Roman wrestler inked his deal with Asia-based martial arts promotion ONE Championship back in early August, and he wasted little time in making his objective in the company known. View this post on Instagram @onechampionship give me your m* f* champion i cant wait anymore. im the best ?? ????? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ??? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ???? #fights#onefc#amiraliakbari##knockout #kickboxing #wrestling #MixedMartialArts#amiraliakbari#onechampionship #one #imthebest #WeAreONE A post shared by Amirali Akbari (@amiraliakbari60) on Aug 5, 2020 at 11:41pm PDT The 10-1 heavyweight posted a photo of himself and Vera, accompanied by a pretty strong-sounding caption. "ONE Championship, give me your m* f* champion, I can't wait anymore. I'm the best," Aliakbari wrote. Aliakbari made a name for himself competing in Japan under the Rizin FF promotion, before a stint in Russia. He has notable wins over the likes of PRIDE FC veteran Heath Herring and Geronimo Dos Santos. His lone loss came against MMA legend Mirko Cro Cop......»»
Morikawa quickly goes from college grad to major champion
By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Collin Morikawa couldn't help but break into a smile, and not just because the shiny Wanamaker Trophy he won at Harding Park was positioned on a stand next to him. Just over 14 months ago, Morikawa went through commencement after his All-American career — on the golf course and in the classroom — across the Bay Bridge and up the road at Cal-Berkeley. Since then, he has played 28 tournaments around the world and already has three victories on the PGA Tour, one of them a major championship. In the last 50 years, only four other players won their first major before age 23 or younger — Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods and Seve Ballesteros. He already is No. 5 in the world. That alone puts him among the elite, except that Morikawa didn't need to win the PGA Championship to feel that way. “When I woke up today, I was like, ‘This is meant to be.’ This is where I feel very comfortable,” Morikawa said. “This is where I want to be, and I'm not scared from it. I think if I was scared from it, the last few holes would have been a little different. But you want to be in this position.” Harding Park was not a place for the meek. Rare is Sunday at a major with so many possibilities at the beginning, at the turn and down the stretch. The drama was relentless. Nine players at one point could claim a share of the lead. There was Dustin Johnson, who started with a one-shot lead. The power of Tony Finau, Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Champ was on full display. Jason Day brought the experience of winning majors and being No. 1 in the world. Morikawa embraced the moment and delivered the signature shot that allowed him to win a thriller. Actually, there were two moments. After catching a good break — even the most tested major champions need those — with a tee shot off a tree and into play on the 14th, he was short of the green and chipped in for birdie to take the lead. Two holes later, Paul Casey tied him with a nifty up-and-down for birdie on the 16th, where the tees were moved forward to 294 yards to entice players to go for the green. Morikawa thought back to the 14th hole at Muirfield Village during the Workday Charity Open, where he fearlessly hit driver in a similar situation — big trouble left, water right — and drilled it to 12 feet. His shot was the signature moment of this major, a driver that bounced just right and onto the green and rolled up to 7 feet below the cup. He made the eagle putt and was on his way to a two-shot victory with a 6-under 64, matching the lowest final round by a PGA champion. There were no spectators because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Casey must have felt like one. He was still on the 17th tee when he looked back and saw Morikawa's shot. “Nothing you can do but tip your cap to that,” Casey said. “Collin has taken on that challenge and pulled it off. That's what champions do.” He won at Muirfield Village last month not from that bold play on the 14th hole, but after Justin Thomas made a 50-foot birdie putt in the playoff. Morikawa answered with a 25-foot birdie of his own and won two holes later. He is comfortable in the most uncomfortable situations. It was Thomas who gave Morikawa more confidence than he needed. They got together for dinner at the Canadian Open last summer, Morikawa's first start since graduating from Cal. Thomas told him he was good enough, he would make it. Thomas knew from experience. He spent a year in the minor leagues before getting his PGA Tour card, went through a year of learning without winning and now has 13 wins, a major and twice has been No. 1 in the world. Morikawa didn't wait that long. He won the Barracuda Championship to earn a PGA Tour card. He won against a strong field for validation. Now he's a major champion. Young stars are emerging every year, and it was easy to overlook Morikawa. He was a runner-up two years in a row for the Hogan Award, given to the nation's best college player. Doug Ghim won in 2018, Matthew Wolff a year later. And it was Wolff who denied Morikawa a victory last year in Minnesota by making a long eagle putt on the last hole. Players know best. “There’s always a bunch of guys that rock up on the scene, and he didn’t necessarily get the most publicity out of the group he was in,” Casey said. “I know talent when I see it. I don't like the term ‘talent,’ but you know when somebody is good. And Collin was good. We could just tell. ... And we weren't wrong.” Morikawa grew up in Southern California with Wolff. He considers the Bay Area a second home from his time at Cal and the dozen times the Golden Bears played or had qualifiers at Harding Park, a public course that never was this tough. In just over a year — it feels less than that because of the three months golf was shut down because of the pandemic — he has emerged as a star without ever being surprised. He thought back to his debut 14 months ago and recalled being comfortable then. He tied for 14th. “There's a different sense of comfort now,” Morikawa said. Another big smile. A bright future......»»
New dad Brandon Vera says fatherhood a source of motivation
Reigning ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera is now a father. The Filipino-American mixed martial arts star and his wife Jessica welcomed their son Atreyu Timothy into the world back in July, and it’s given the 42-year old a renewed sense of motivation. Vera, who has been ONE’s heavyweight king since 2015, says that like winning inside the cage, words simply cannot describe the feeling of becoming a dad. “I can’t describe how Atreyu was born just like I can’t describe what it’s like to win in the ONE Circle. It’s two peas in the same pod, no words would ever do that justice,” Vera said. “There was one moment when Atreyu first came out, I was in such joy that I threw my arms up in the air and looked straight up at the ceiling and started crying and smiling, thinking, ‘Wow, this is what everyone talks about.’” Much like most fathers in the fight game, Vera says that the birth of his child has become a source of energy. “It is easier to wake up. I can agree with this statement. I feel more motivated. I get tired less. I don’t know how and why, but that happened,” Vera explained. The difference is, Vera says that he’s always had family in his mind, which isn’t necessarily the case for other new fathers. “Everybody keeps saying priorities change, I am not of that same mindset. Family has always been number one for me. I have been waiting for a long time to change diapers, feed the baby, and train with my child in the gym. All plans are still the same. We’re the World Champ, we act accordingly and we keep our title until we decide it is time for the next step.” “Honestly, I re-realize I’m a father every day I open my eyes and see him. Being a father is not only a very important path in life, it’s also a very serious one for me where my teachings and actions will and can help mold Atreyu into a person to help this world,” Vera continued. That newfound energy and motivation should come in handy once Vera makes his long-awaited return to action. The reigning heavyweight king is expected to defend his ONE Heavyweight World Championship against Indian-Canadian challenger Arjan Bhullar......»»
Dustin Johnson emerges from a pack to lead PGA Championship
By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Dustin Johnson supplied the birdies, eight of them Saturday at the PGA Championship, the most he has ever made in his 157 rounds of major championship golf for a 5-under 65 and a one-shot lead. Brooks Koepka supplied the needle. Koepka recovered from three straight bogeys to salvage a 69 and stay within two shots of a leaderboard more crowded than any of San Francisco's congested highways. At stake is a chance to become only the seventh player to win the same major three straight times. He surveyed the cast of contenders, and focused on the guy at the top. “I like my chances,” Koepka said. “When I've been in this position before, I've capitalized. He's only won one. I'm playing good. I don't know, we'll see.” As he stepped away from the microphone, Koepka smiled and said to Jason Day, “How about that shade?” They laughed. Too bad this isn't a two-man show. The final round at Harding Park figures to be wide open, just like it was on a Saturday so wild that eight players had at least a share of the lead during the third round. Johnson lost his yardage book and still found his way through an enormous crowd of contenders. He made a double bogey on the ninth hole and still bounced back with a 31 on the tough, windy back nine. He needed all eight of those birdies on a day of low scores, long putts and endless possibilities. One possibility is Koepka hoisting the Wanamaker Trophy for the third straight year, which hasn’t happened since Walter Hagen won four in a row in the 1920s when it was match play. The last player to win any major three straight times was Peter Thomson at the British Open in 1956. Koepka was two shots behind on a board that features only two major champions among the top six. Scottie Scheffler, the PGA Tour rookie from Texas, ran off three straight birdies only to miss a 6-foot par putt on the final hole. He still shot a 65 and was one shot behind, in the final group at his first PGA Championship. Cameron Champ, who has the most powerful swing on tour, shot 67 and joined Scheffler one shot behind. Johnson was at 9-under 201 as he goes for his second major title. For all the chances he has had, this is only the second time he has led going into the final round. The other was down the coast at Pebble Beach, his first chance at winning a major. He had a three-shot lead in the 2010 U.S. Open and shot 82. Now he is more seasoned with experiences good (21 tour victories) and bad (five close calls in the majors). “I'm going to have to play good golf if I want to win. It's simple,” Johnson said. “I've got to hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens. If I can do that tomorrow, I'm going to have a good chance coming down the stretch. ... I'm just going to have to do what I did today. Just get it done." Among the cast of contenders are major champions like Koepka, Jason Day and Justin Rose, and fresh faces like Scheffler, Champ and Collin Morikawa. Also right there was Bryson DeChambeau, thanks to a 95-foot putt for birdie on his last hole. Turns out he can hit long putts, too. Missing from all this action is Tiger Woods, who didn't make a birdie until the 16th hole and is out of the mix for the fourth straight major since his emotional Masters victory last year. A dozen players were separated by three shots. Li Haotong, the first player from China to lead after any round at a major, was leading through 12 holes until his tee shot didn't come down from a tree. He made double bogey, dropped two more shots and finished four shots out of the lead. Johnson didn't have smooth sailing, either, especially when he couldn't find his yardage book. He thinks it slipped into the bottom of the golf bag, and he didn't feel like dumping his 14 clubs all over the ground to find it. Austin Johnson, his brother and caddie, had a spare yardage book. Johnson shot 65 even with a double bogey on the ninth hole. Mistakes like that might be more costly on Sunday with so many players in the mix. Even those who struggled — Rose, Daniel Berger, Tommy Fleetwood all settled for 70 — are only three shots behind. Adding to the drama will be the lack of atmosphere, this being the first major without spectators. Paul Casey said he still didn't feel nerves from the lack of people. Perhaps that helps with younger players in the hunt for the first time. It also could make it difficult for players to know what's happening around them without any cheers. Then again, Johnson won the U.S. Open in 2016 at Oakmont without knowing the score as the USGA tried to decide whether he should be penalized for a potential rules violation earlier in the round. He had to play the last seven holes without knowing his score. It's just one example of what Johnson has endured in the majors. There was a penalty that knocked him out of a playoff in the 2010 PGA at Whistling Straits for grounding his club in sand without realizing it was a bunker. He had a 12-foot eagle putt to win the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay, only to three-putt for par and a silver medal. But he's back for another shot, and his game looks to be in order. He has the power, and on this day, he had the putting. “I definitely have experience in this situation that definitely will help tomorrow,” Johnson said. “I’ve been in the hunt a bunch of times in a major. I’ve got one major. ... Still going to have to go out and play really good golf.”.....»»
Li at his best and builds early lead at PGA Championship
By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Still young, often inconsistent, forever fearless, Li Haotong is capable of just about anything on a big stage in golf. He was at his best Friday in the PGA Championship. Three years after his 63 in the final round of the British Open, Li hit only four fairways at Harding Park and still managed a 5-under 65 that gave him the early lead and set the target for Jason Day, Brooks Koepka and Tiger Woods to chase. The 25-year-old from China capped a bogey-free round with his eighth straight par and was at 8-under 132, two shots ahead of Tommy Fleetwood of England among the early starters. Surprised? Depends on the day. “The last couple days, I've been pretty much all hit in the right spot,” Li said. Getting as much attention was the logo on his hat — WeChat, the Chinese social media company and one of his biggest sponsors. Li was in the spotlight at Harding Park one day after President Donald Trump signed executive orders on a vague ban of WeChat and TikTok in 45 days. Just as unclear was whether Li was aware of the development. “I don't know,” he said. “Who knows?” Li is a two-time winner on the European Tour, most recently in 2018 at the Dubai Desert Classic when he rallied down the stretch to beat Rory McIlroy by one shot. He was sensational at Royal Birkdale in 2017 — only five other players have 63 in the final round of a major. But he had a terrible week in his Presidents Cup debut at Royal Melbourne in December. When he first came to America, he made fast friends on the developmental tours with his constant laughter, engaging personality and aggressive play. “He's got the arsenal to take it low,” said Adam Scott, his teammate at Royal Melbourne. “But we don’t see that kind of consistency out of him, and that probably matches his personality a little bit. He’s young, though, and that’s the kind of golf he plays. He plays pretty much all guns blazing, and when it comes off, it’s really good.” And when it doesn't? He beat Koepka in the Match Play last year and reached the round of 16. But that was his last top 10 in America. And then there was the Presidents Cup. Li brought his trainer to be his caddie, and the caddie got lost on the course during a practice round, gave up and headed for the clubhouse. Instead of finding him, Li played the rest of the round out of another player's bag. International captain Ernie Els wound up benching him for two days, playing Li only when he had to. Li lost both matches he played. “It's been very tough on me, the Presidents Cup, because I didn't play until Saturday,” Li said. “So not quite in the Presidents that way, actually. But anyways, good experience.” Fleetwood had one of those final-round 63s in the majors two years ago at Shinnecock Hills in the U.S. Open. He had a 64 on Friday and was two shots behind at 134. Much like Li — maybe the only thing they have in common — it's been a slow start back. Fleetwood stayed in England during the pandemic, not returning to competition until Minnesota two weeks ago (he missed the cut). He also played a World Golf Championship last week with middling results, but he found his form in San Francisco. “It’s funny really, like when you’ve played poorly, you feel a long way off, and then you have a day like today and you obviously feel a lot better about it,” Fleetwood said. “I feel like I’ve prepared well last week and this week and felt way more in the groove of tournament golf.” Cameron Champ, who grew up in Sacramento, had a 64. He was three shots behind Li, along with Paul Casey (67). Brendon Todd, who shared the 18-hole lead with Day, settled for a 70 and joined them at 135. Li, who primarily plays the European Tour, went back to China in March when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down golf. He returned at the Memorial and missed the cut, and then tied for 75th in a 78-man field last week in Tennessee. “I didn't even (think) I could play like this ... got no confidence,” Li said. “Probably it helped me clear my mind a little bit.” He's wise enough to realize the tournament is not even at the halfway point. If the lead holds, Li would be the first player from China to hold the lead after any round of a major......»»
Pinoy boxing stars John Riel Casimero, Mark Magsayo link up in the US
A pair of rising Pinoy boxing stars in WBO Bantamweight World Champion John Riel "Quadro Alas" Casimero and undefeated prospect Mark "Magnifico" Magsayo got to link up and spend some time together in the United States over the weekend. Casimero and Magsayo, both members of Manny Pacquiao's MP Promotions stable, spent their rest day fishing, as shared by Magsayo on his Instagram account. View this post on Instagram Went fishing with my bro WBO Champ Quadro Alas @johnrielreponte last night for our weekend rest. @mannypacquiao @knuckleheadsean #fishingtime #resttime #MPpromotions #viva #MMM #teamSeva A post shared by Magnifico (@markmagnificomagsayo) on Jul 26, 2020 at 7:14pm PDT The 30-year old Casimero has been in the United States since March and was scheduled to face undefeated Japanese boxing star Naoya Inoue, the reigning WBA and IBF Bantamweight king in a unification bout back in April, until the COVID-19 pandemic nixed those plans. Magsayo, who inked his deal with MP Promotions earlier this year, flew to the US at the start of July to work and train with the likes of long-time Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach and Pacquiao strengh and conditioning coach Justin Fortune. Magsayo's trip to the US was also initially supposed to happen at an earlier date, but the pandemic also prevented that from pushing through. Both Casimero and Magsayo are hoping to return to the ring later this year. .....»»
Ex-UFC champ Whittaker back on track with decision over Till
Ex-UFC champ Whittaker back on track with decision over Till.....»»