Game over for Pacman: Philippine boxing great Pacquiao retires to chase presidency

Manny Pacquiao after losing against Cuban Yordenis Ugas. The Philippine boxing legend and 2022 presidential hopeful said Wednesday he was retiring. (AFP)
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Updated 30 September 2021
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Game over for Pacman: Philippine boxing great Pacquiao retires to chase presidency

  • Sportsman ends 72-fight career with 62 wins, eight losses, two draws

MANILA: Philippine boxing great and former eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao said he was retiring from the “greatest sport in the world” on Wednesday to focus on his run for president in the 2022 race.

The 42-year-old sportsman, who has won 12 world titles and is also a senator, made the announcement in a 14-minute video posted on his official Facebook page.

“It is difficult to accept that my time as a boxer is over. Today, I am announcing my retirement,” said Pacquiao, who is often referred to as “Pacman” and “The Destructor.” 

He added that he never thought the day would come, sharing highlights of his 26-year career as a professional boxer and recalling how he was once rejected by the Philippine team but soldiered on to pursue his passion.

“As I hang up my boxing gloves, I would like to thank the whole world, especially the Filipino people, for supporting Manny Pacquiao. Goodbye, boxing. Boxing has always been my passion ... I am grateful for all my accomplishments and the opportunity to inspire the fans.”

Renowned for his speedy footwork and boxing brilliance, Pacquiao is widely regarded  as one of the top offensive fighters in the sport’s history, finishing his 72-fight career with 62 wins, eight losses and two draws.

“To the greatest fans and the greatest sport in the world, thank you!” he tweeted. “This is the hardest decision I’ve ever made, but I’m at peace with it. Chase your dreams, work hard, and watch what happens.”

Pacquiao said on Sept. 19 that he was accepting the nomination of his political party, the PDP-Laban, to run for president in next year’s polls, ending weeks of speculation.

But Wednesday’s announcement still elicited an outpouring of support and admiration from fans who thanked him for uniting and inspiring Filipinos.

“Thank you Manny for inspiring us all and entertaining everyone amidst all problems ... We become one united Filipino once you are on the ringside!” fan Charlie Tanglao said in response to Pacquiao’s Facebook post.

“Honored to have attended your last fight,” another fan, Rafael Pena, wrote. “Thank you for your years of dedication to the sport ... You are and always will be my favorite boxer of all time and my number one pound for pound.”

But some experts have questioned his political viability.

“It would be better if Pacquiao runs for vice president instead, as he still lacks maturity in politics and leadership,” political analyst and executive director at the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform Ramon Casiple told Arab News.

When asked if Pacquiao had what it took to run the country, Casiple replied: “He lacks experience as a senior political leader every time he speaks, that’s how voters will judge him as against their problems and all the issues now faced by our country.”

He said that, even as a senator, the former boxer did not “openly articulate his position,” especially on critical issues.

“His sincerity is there, we can see that. But sincerity is not enough. Leadership and quality are what people want to see (from presidential hopefuls), especially now that we are faced with the pandemic and economic crisis.” 

Pacquiao’s popularity itself was not a “decisive factor” to resolve the nation’s problems, he added.


Aryna Sabalenka powers into French Open fourth round

Updated 57 min 26 sec ago
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Aryna Sabalenka powers into French Open fourth round

  • The Belarusian dominated her opponent from the start and although she faced some brief resistance in the second set

PARIS: World number one Aryna Sabalenka’s French Open quest continued as she powered into the fourth round with a 6-2 6-3 victory against Serbia’s Olga Danilovic on Friday.

The Belarusian dominated her opponent from the start and although she faced some brief resistance in the second set, she easily set up a meeting with 16th seed Amanda Anisimova of the United States.

“I am super happy with the win, Olga is a fighter and I knew it would be a fight. She played like a top 10 player; pretty soon she will be in the top 10,” said Sabalenka.

Sabalenka started in ruthless fashion, racing to a 5-0 lead but Danilovic avoided the bagel by winning the sixth game on serve, going on to pull a break back.

The resurgence was shortlived, however, as Sabalenka wrapped up the opening set with another break of serve.

Danilovic put up a decent fight in the second set but there was no comeback on the cards as Sabalenka broke for 5-3.

The three-time Grand Slam champion wrapped it up with an unreturnable serve on a half-empty Court Philippe Chatrier – a common occurrence on early matches at the French Open.


Driver charged with Liverpool football parade tragedy appears in court

Updated 57 min 35 sec ago
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Driver charged with Liverpool football parade tragedy appears in court

  • Prosecutors have charged him with dangerous driving and six serious offenses alleging grievous bodily harm
  • The charges are related to two boys, two women and two men who were among the 79 people injured Monday during celebrations of Liverpool’s Premier League championship

LONDON: A driver charged with multiple counts of intentionally causing grievous bodily harm for ramming into a crowd of Liverpool football fans celebrating their team’s Premier League championship was ordered held in custody Friday at his first court appearance.
Paul Doyle, wearing a black suit, white shirt and gray tie, looked emotional as he spoke only to confirm his name, address and birth date in a hearing in Liverpool Magistrates’ Court. He did not enter a plea.
Doyle, 53, faces a charge of dangerous driving and six serious offenses alleging he caused or tried to cause grievous bodily harm. The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison if he is convicted.
The father of three bowed his head as the charges were read. The counts are related to the injuries of two boys, two women and two men who were among the 79 people injured Monday. The victims ranged in age from 9 to 78, police said. Seven people remained hospitalized Thursday.
District Judge Paul Healey put an order in place restricting the publication of victims’ names.
Doyle was ordered to appear later in the day in Liverpool Crown Court.
The city had been celebrating Liverpool’s record-tying 20th title when Doyle turned down a street full of fans and joy quickly turned to tragedy. Police said they believed Doyle got past a road block by following an ambulance that was trying to reach a possible heart attack victim.
Videos showed the car hit and toss a person wrapped in a red Liverpool flag into the air and then swerve into a sea of people packed on the side of the road.
At least four people, including a child, had to be freed from beneath the vehicle when it came to a halt.
The driver was believed to have acted alone and terrorism was not suspected, Merseyside Police said. They have not disclosed an alleged motive for the act.


Real Madrid sign Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool

Updated 30 May 2025
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Real Madrid sign Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool

  • Real Madrid have signed defender Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool on a deal until 2031, the Spanish giants said on Friday

MADRID: Real Madrid have signed defender Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool on a deal until 2031, the Spanish giants said on Friday.
The 26-year-old England international’s contract at Anfield was drawing to an end but Madrid paid a fee to bring him in earlier so he can play in the Club World Cup.
Right-back Alexander-Arnold, who has just won the Premier League title with Liverpool, came through the academy of his boyhood club and won the Champions League in 2019.
He also won the Premier League in 2020 and 352 appearances for the club.
The defender joins former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid, with the Spaniard appointed as their new coach to replace Carlo Ancelotti.
Alexander-Arnold’s close connections to Liverpool meant that his announcement that he was leaving the club was viewed with disgust by some supporters and he was booed in the penultimate match of the season.
But after club figures including former manager Jurgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah urged fans to remember the contribution he has made to Liverpool’s success over the last six years, he was roundly cheered when he lifted the Premier League trophy at Anfield last Sunday.
The defender joins a Real Madrid side which failed to win a major trophy this season.
Alexander-Arnold has been criticized for his defensive concentration at times but brings supreme passing vision and attacking edge down the right flank.
Real Madrid have struggled at right-back this season with Dani Carvajal recovering from a long-term knee injury and winger Lucas Vazquez enduring a torrid time there out of position.
Alexander-Arnold could make his Real Madrid debut when they face Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in their opening Club World Cup match on June 18 in Miami.
Real Madrid have also signed Spanish center-back Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth as they look to bolster a back-line which was ravaged by injury this season.


De Bruyne is Manchester City’s ‘greatest player’ says club chairman as Guardiola prepares team for Club World Cup

Updated 30 May 2025
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De Bruyne is Manchester City’s ‘greatest player’ says club chairman as Guardiola prepares team for Club World Cup

  • In Part 1 of his review of the 2024-2025 season, Khaldoon Al-Mubarak looks back on the challenges faced by the team and confirms his confidence that they will be back to winning ways

ABU DHABI: Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak has provided his annual review of the season to the club’s official online channel. In Part 1 of the interview he discussed the challenges of the 2024-2025 campaign, the departure of a club legend and his trust in manager Pep Guardiola. Here are some of the highlights.

On City improving next season …

We will be back. This season is a season that’s now behind us. And we will take all the good things and the not-so-good things from this season and learn from it and improve from it and get better.

I can assure you, this club will do everything possible to come back to the standards that we know we all can achieve and that we know, we will achieve. If there’s one thing I’d like right now, it’s to turn that page from last season and just immediately start focusing on next season.

All the players, everyone I saw yesterday after the Fulham game, all the players, they’re excited, they’re excited about coming back. Nobody feels good about how we finished the season. They want to come back and they want to come back hungry. And I can see the hunger.

And that’s exactly why you see me so positive. We’re going to come back strong, with a lot of positivity.

On City’s summer transfer strategy …

We have clearly identified who exactly are the targets, in what positions, and we have our clear No.1 option, our clear No.2 option. And we’ll go about our business, and it will be very clear, very swift.

Our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.

 

 

On Kevin De Bruyne …

In my view, he is the greatest player to play for this club. His accomplishments speak for themselves. His accomplishments for the club in terms of trophies — that tally, number of Premier Leagues, the Champions League, FA Cups, Community Shields, Carabao Cups. It’s an unbelievable tally, the highest of any player who has ever played for this club.

He's been a captain. He’s been a leader. He’s been a teammate. He’s been everything you would hope from your most important player.

Kevin really transcends this team and I’m so proud of what he has accomplished. It’s one of the best decisions we ever took – the day we took the decision to invest in Kevin and bring him from Wolfsburg. I remember some people thought we overpaid.

On Pep Guardiola …

One thing we have with Pep, which is so fundamental, is one word: trust.

We have trust, and it goes both ways. I think he trusts us. He trusts me. He trusts the organisation. He trusts the club, and we trust him.

And that trust is what, in the good times, allows you to keep winning. And in the tough times, that’s where that trust really shows up.

And we’ve gone through all these ups and downs, and we’ve always stood together as a team. And inevitably it’s always shown to be the foundation of our success.

 


Dubai Basketball keep title dreams alive with overtime win against seven-time champions

Updated 30 May 2025
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Dubai Basketball keep title dreams alive with overtime win against seven-time champions

  • Home team edges Partizan Mozzart Bet 100-95 at Coca-Cola Arena in ABA League semi-finals

DUBAI: Dubai Basketball edged out seven-time ABA League champions Partizan Mozzart Bet in Game 2 of the semi-finals — winning the pivotal clash 100-95 in the final five minutes of overtime to square the series.

Dubai welcomed Serbian powerhouse Partizan Mozzart Bet to Coca-Cola Arena on Thursday night after a shock loss in Belgrade in the first leg of the semi-final. Needing a win to keep their league ambitions alive, Dubai Basketball were set for what would be one of their best games this season.

In a stark contrast from the first game of the semis, Dubai Basketball kept Partizan on edge with unrelenting momentum and strong defensive tactics. Praising Dubai’s response, Partizan coach Zeljko Obradovic spoke about the intensity of playing Dubai at home.

“We knew they would try to be aggressive here (in Dubai), and they were,” he said.

Dubai’s physicality and determination were evident from the start of the first quarter. Holding a narrow three-point lead in the second quarter, the team gained confidence as they landed crucial three-pointers, pushing ahead into the second half. However, Partizan quickly retaliated, with American guard Carlik Jones and Belgian international Frank Ntilikina making an early impact and keeping the contest tight.

Leading by example for Dubai was captain and Man of the Match Klemen Prepelic. The Slovenian shooting guard has often been praised for his role in the debutant team, but his performance on Thursday night outshone his previous milestones for the team.

Prepelic, the night’s top scorer, contributed 30 points, three rebounds and one assist. Only one other Dubai Basketball member came close to these stats, with Nate Mason’s perfectly executed free throws in the last 14 seconds of regulation time leveling the score and forcing Partizan into overtime.

Praising the team’s resilience, Dubai Basketball head coach Jurica Golemac said: “I’m very proud. We didn’t surrender; we didn’t give up. You could see it in the players — the emotions in their eyes. We didn’t want the season to end, and that was obvious.”

With more than 7,000 fans in attendance, Dubai looked more confident than ever in the extra period. Spurred on by the home crowd, they secured the final points of the night and sealed a crucial win to force a deciding third game in Belgrade on Sunday.

“Our defence was unbelievable today,” Golemac added. “I had the feeling there were 10,000 people inside — breathing and playing the game with us. They wanted to succeed just like we did.”

Dubai Basketball now head to Serbia for the semi-final showdown, one step away from a place in the ABA League finals — marking an already historic debut season for the team with a second home win against one of Europe’s most decorated clubs.