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Boxe Sport

European Youth Women: Sophia Mazzoni gold in 50 kg

The European Women’s Youth 2021 ended in beauty for Italy. In the ring of the ‘Mediterranean Sport Center’ in Buvda, Montenegro, Sophia Mazzoni won the gold medal in the 50 kg overcoming the Serbian Cirkovic 5-0. Mazzoni, a rising star in Italian women’s boxing and a member of Ferrara Boxe, literally dominated the match from the first to the third round, giving her opponent no chance. A triumph to which must be added the bronze medal won by Chiara Saraiello in the 75 kg. “Sophia Mazzoni – these are the words of Fpi President Flavio D’Ambrosi – has conquered a well-deserved gold medal, becoming European champion. She was immense, as is the entire Italian women’s boxing movement, which continually produces great athletes. Thanks to all the technical staff and, in particular, to Head Coach Valeria Calabrese”.

 

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Boxe Sport

Scardina: “McGregor be ashamed, it makes me want to challenge him in the ring…”

“Someone who acts like McGregor in our world is considered trash.” Daniele Scardina comes down hard on the Irish martial arts champion after the attack on Francesco Facchinetti. Guest of the program ‘105 Kaos’, on Radio 105, the boxer from Rozzano is very severe: “Sunday I woke up, I picked up the phone, I saw Francesco’s story and in our group I wrote ‘Tell me it’s a joke’. What happened is a terrible and senseless stuff. We boxers, we sportsmen are supposed to set an example. And we have to be aware that our body is a weapon. We have to be an example of redemption, of education, of unity, which a lot of people don’t do. A champion like Conor McGregor should be a great example since millions of fans follow him.”

Scardina says he’s very disappointed: “When I heard about this, a myth fell away. It can’t be explained, it can’t be explained. This sport gives you discipline, it gives you education, it gives you respect. Regardless of what can happen. What happened is something sleazy because we know all the sacrifice behind it. I would never accept a provocation, I would never allow myself to raise my hands against a person. My goal is to become a world champion, to be an example for young people, for older people, for people who have a dream and maybe don’t believe in it and see me as a reference point,” he continued. “My sporting goal is to be able to fight a fighter of the caliber of Canelo Alvarez. Now, however, I also have a great desire to fight McGregor…,” he concludes.

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Boxe Sport

Tyson Fury confirms himself as world champion of the heavywei ght: Wilder ko after a match of other times

In the last chapter of the trilogy, we can affirm that Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder have represented their existential parabola. In Las Vegas one of the most dramatic fights of the last years took place: Fury deservedly won it, still world heavyweight champion for the WBC after having knocked down the American at the eleventh round. It’s the reaffirmation of a superiority appeared evident in the victory of the second match, in February 2020, after the draw of the first one.

During the presentation we wrote about extraordinary giants in the ring, but complex to the limit of fragility in life. From Fury’s depression that led to drug addiction, to Wilder’s anguish: the latter’s youthful fear of not being able to bear his little daughter’s illness (then fortunately healed), even his intentions to end it all. Rises and falls, just what was seen in the ring of the T-Mobile Arena. Five landings in total, Wilder above all lived the fight constantly on the edge of the abyss. The man from Alabama tried to hold up the world with one punch, he couldn’t. Despite the work of new lieutenant Malik Scott, he did not magically become Muhammad Ali at age 35. His boxing is pure power, but there is little else. He has only one shot, the right, one of the most devastating ever. But he goes on only with that: it seemed to be enough when in the fourth round he hit Fury, landing him twice. But once Gipsy King, the king of the gypsies as he likes to be called (he comes from a nomadic family that arrived from Ireland and stopped in Manchester), has overcome the storm, the match has taken an unequivocal turn.

 

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Boxe Sport

Worlds: Cavallaro and Mouhiidine in the semifinals, Italy back on the podium after 8 years

First “Tiger Eyes,” then the excellent Abbes. Italy took its big renown. “Eyes of the tiger” is the battle name of Salvatore Cavallaro. Abbes, whose last name is Mouhiidine, is a boy of Moroccan father and mother from Irpinia. On the ring of the Stark Arena of Belgrade they have conquered the access to the semifinals of the championship of the world Elite of boxing. It was from the review of Almaty, Kazakhstan in 2013, that Italy (out of the Tokyo Games in the men’s field, never happened from Antwerp 1920, but that even in Rio 2016 had not combined anything), did not win a podium at the world championships. The last standard bearers had been Clemente Russo (gold), Roberto Cammarelle and Domenico Valentino (bronze).

Kazako, Nurkamat Rays, era l’avversario di Cavallaro. Il siciliano, dopo un match semplicemente sensazionale nel turno precedente contro il francese Fendero, si è ripetuto. Era stato l’ultimo italiano ad essere escluso dall’Olimpiade, beffato per una manciata di punti nel complicato intreccio del ranking dopo che la pandemia aveva ridotto le possibilità di qualificazione mediante torneo. Venticinque anni, atleta delle Fiamme Oro, corona una carriera che lo vede primeggiare ad alti livelli sin dal 2011, quando si prese il bronzo ai mondiale juniores. Il match con Rays è stato duro. Il kazako ha cercato, un po’ come fatto dal precedente avversario di Cavallaro – Fendero – il colpo pesante: ha fatto male in qualche circostanza, soprattutto nel secondo ed a tratti nel terzo round, quello decisivo, dopo che il siciliano nel primo aveva gestito molto bene la situazione con notevole scelta di tempo. I momenti più sofferto nel terzo round, quando l’incontro è diventato una vera e propria battaglia. Il kazako ne è uscito con una ferita all’arcata sopraccigliare, entrambi nel sono usciti con un punto di penalità, quel che è conta, Cavallaro ne è uscito vincitore per 3-2. Ora in semifinale, contro il cubano Hernandez Martinez,dovrà semolicemente superare se stesso.

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Boxe Sport

Elite World Championships: Cavallaro remains bronze, too strong the Cuban Hernandez

Salvatore Cavallaro’s glass is still almost full. A world bronze after 8 years of abstinence of the entire Italian movement, is a significant and encouraging. All this, of course, with the hope of going further in the evening, when in the 92 kg category will play the access to the final the Irpinian-Moroccan Abbes Mouhiidine. Cavallaro in the semifinal against Yoenlis Hernandez Martinez confirmed his alias, ‘tiger eyes’. He was not afraid to go for it despite knowing that the weapons to scare his opponent were not many. The problem for Cavallaro was Hernandez, who confirmed his superior level: technical, fast and, if necessary, quite powerful.

All qualities that Hernandez showed in three rounds in which he did not walk, forced to the maximum attention by the constant advance of the Sicilian. The Cuban’s left jab, moreover superior in extension, has been the blow that during the first two rounds has made the difference. Down 20-18 on all the 5 cards, Cavallaro has however wanted to leave the world championship with his head held high trying the impossible in the third round. He didn’t succeed, on the contrary it was Hernandez who, starting to use more frequently his right hand, in some cases even at first sight, legitimized his victory. In the end, a severe but fair verdict: 5-0, four 30-27 and even a 30-26. But no regrets: for a boxer who had hoped for a long time in the Olympics through the complicated calculations of the ranking to then be mocked for a fistful of points, and who last August had been operated on the elbow of his left arm, this bronze has a special weight.

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Golf Sport

Beyond Blindness Raises $100K at Annual Golf Classic

On Monday, Oct. 18, Beyond Blindness partnered with 19th Hole Golf Productions to raise nearly $100K at its annual Dr. Frank Villalobos Fall Golf Classic, held at the Aliso Viejo Country Club.

The funds raised through this event will support the essential programming and therapies provided by Beyond Blindness – the OC-based nonprofit whose mission is to empower children with visual impairments and other disabilities to achieve their fullest potential. The organization provides children and families with Early Intervention, Education & Enrichment, and Family Support services.

The tournament was generously presented by the Villalobos family and featured 18 holes of scrambled golf, hole-in-one contests and games throughout the course, complimentary meals and beverages, exceptional auction packages and experience, a cocktail reception, and more.

Beyond Blindness supporter and one of the day’s top contributors, Dr. Charlie Eifrig of Newport Beach and his team, were the winners of this year’s tournament. Dr. Eifrig was also one of the day’s top contributors.

“Despite the difficulties so many have faced over the past year, we are in awe of those who continue to show up in support of our mission and the families we serve,” noted Angie Rowe, President and Executive Director of Beyond Blindness. “Thanks to our generous community of donors, board members, volunteers and staff, this year’s event was a huge success and the funds raised will make a huge impact in the lives of these children and their families.”

Beyond Blindness was formerly known as Blind Children’s Learning Center, and for many years held a special Easter egg hunt at Newport Dunes using audible Easter eggs.

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Golf Sport

Phil Mickelson quotes Forrest Gump… as a matter of inches

Phil Mickelson more realistic than the king and – even – than Bryson DeChambeau. Lefty takes the latest USGA and R&A decision limiting the use of certain drivers head-on. “Stupid is he who does stupid,” Mickelson tweets, using Forrest Gump to bash the two top international golf authorities. And to say that their intervention was not meant for Phil as much as it was for the bomber Bryson.

But let’s go in order.

The USGA and R&A have long since declared war on a certain type of golf. They don’t like the kind that is all muscle and distance, the kind where technique is progressively replaced by power. In short, the kind of golf played today by Bryson DeChambeau and his disciples.

In the last few days, a new local rule (I stress local) has been introduced that prohibits the use of clubs longer than 46 inches. The intention is to limit the long-ball-and-put concept. There are many reasons behind such a choice: from the game courses that must be lengthened to remain competitive to the lesser media appeal of a golf where power is everything.The new rule is not to be imposed all the time.

The rule is designed for professional players: it is difficult to see it applied in one of our strawberry cups rather than in a president’s cup. As of January 1, 2022, anyone who wants to can adopt it in competition. The PGA Tour let it be known almost immediately that it wants to introduce it.

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Golf Sport

Golf, takes 23 seconds to hit the ball in balance: goodbye to 19 thousand dollars

How far apart, speaking of golf, are mad joy and cosmic pissing off? According to the current rules this distance is obtained by adding the reasonable time to reach the hole and ten seconds. Testimonial of this status is Seonghyeon Kim, a young professional invited last week for the second time to play on the PGA Tour.

If the first time is never forgotten (playing elbow to elbow with the world’s best pros) the second is destined to go down in personal history for the 22-year-old South Korean.

In Las Vegas, on the last hole of the fourth round of The CJ Cup (won by McIlroy), Kim was enveloped by the never-sought-after cloak of bad luck. One of his putts for birdie from less than a foot became a school case. The ball thoughtfully made a nice 360-degree turn around the edge of the hole and then stopped slightly outside. A matter of millimeters and the force of gravity, a situation that – we know – happens more often than you might think.

With his mind, Seonghyeon Kim must have immediately told off who knows what. With his body he raised the putter, made a half turn around the hole, meditated and then – resigned to par – returned close to the ball to hit it again. Suddenly, however, the ball rolled into the hole on its own. In the general jubilation of the audience present at the PGA Tour event, the South Korean picked up the ball from the 18th and made a birdie on his score. A very prestigious result, a 25th place for 70 thousand dollars if… there hadn’t been a little out of order called a penalty.

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Golf Sport

Costantino Rocca and the stars of the Legends Tour at San Domenico Golf

A very special last stage of the Italian Pro Tour 2021 is scheduled at San Domenico Golf in Savelletri di Fasano. The 18 holes of Brindisi will host the Sergio Melpignano Senior Italian Open, valid for the Legends Tour, the circuit of the champions over 50.

From 3 to 5 November (with pro am on Saturday 6) from Costantino Rocca to Barry Lane, from Clark Dennis to Stephen Dodd will be the protagonists on the Apulian green. With them many champions over 50 who have written important pages in the history of golf. The next leg of the Legends Tour will be the MCB Tour Championship, scheduled from December 10 to 12 in Mauritius.

The tournament is played over a distance of 54 holes, 18 a day, with no cut. The prize money is 300,000 euros, with a first coin of 45,000.

The first Italian to play the Ryder Cup (in 1993), Rocca will be among the stars of the competition. Among the Azzurri competing will be Emanuele Canonica (45th in the Legends Tour order of merit), Massimo Scarpa (ct of the FIG National Professional Team), Gianluca Pietrobono (best Italian in the tournament in 2019), Michele Reale and Mauro Bianco.

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Golf Sport

Petrodollars arrive in golf: opportunity or propaganda?

After many words and promises, the first flood of petrodollars in golf has arrived. Liv Golf Investments, a company with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund as its majority shareholder, has announced that it has invested 200 million euros in the Asian Tour.

In the world of soccer, the Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia’s sovereign investment fund, recently acquired the professional club Newcastle. Specifically, the English team passed from entrepreneur Mike Ashley for about 300 million pounds to a shareholding structure in which the PIF owns 80%. In the past, the PIF has also been approached by Inter.

Man-image (and perhaps machine) of Liv is Greg Norman, appointed CEO of the group. Best player from 1986 to 1997, in the World Golf Hall of Fame since 2001, Norman the white shark has won 91 titles in his career.

Now the Australian is leading what promises to be a green revolution, with a new league aiming to put a spoke in the wheels of the PGA Tour and European Tour. The two powers represent the status quo and are threatening a hard line with any players who decide to deal with Liv and environs.