Sports — International

France clinches second World Cup title with win over Croatia

France’s power saw it take home the win over Croatia in Sunday’s World Cup final at Moscow. With a score of 4-2, the European nation took home its second World Cup title, with goals that included Kylian Mbappe’s in the  65th minute. Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba also scored for France, while Ivan Perisic and Mario Mandzukic scored for Croatia. AFP

In photos: Pacquiao’s power knockout punch sends shocked Matthyse to the floor

(Eagle News) — Philippine boxing legend and senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao proved his critics wrong that he no longer had that power punch that can send opponents down in the ring. In these photos taken by Agence France Presse photographer Mohd Rasfan during Sunday’s (July 15, 2018) fight in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Pacquiao stood tall and strong even at 39 when he sent Matthyse down on the floor with his power punches that shocked the […]

Duterte congratulates Pacquiao for win over Matthysse; says senator is “one of greatest boxers of all time”

(Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday, July 15, congratulated Manny Pacquiao after he beat Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse to bag the World Boxing Association world welterweight title in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. “I would like to congratulate (the senator) for giving us pride and bringing the Filipino nation together once more,” Duterte said, calling the boxer “one of the greatest boxers of all time.” According to Duterte, Pacquiao’s “win wil surely cement, yet again, (his) position and legacy in […]

You cannot say I’m 39! Bubbling Pacquiao has secret of youth

by Daniel HICKS Agence France Presse KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) — Young-again Manny Pacquiao was in ebullient form Sunday after he leaped back into the global boxing spotlight with a seven-round knockout of WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse. Pacquiao will be 40 in December but was beaming as he told reporters afterward: “Do I look 39? “At 39 years old, I’m still OK, I’m still fine. When you see me in training, you can tell […]

Pacquiao dedicates win against Matthysse to Filipinos; thanks “good” President Duterte

(Eagle News)– Manny Pacquiao on Sunday, July 15, thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for his support after his win against Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse  on Sunday, July 15. “Thank you to my president, Rodrigo Roa Duterte who is watching this fight,” Pacquiao, an ally of Duterte in the Senate, said after his win via technical knockout in the seventh round. The President flew to Malaysia to watch the highly-anticipated bout, and to meet with Malaysian Prime Minister […]

UPDATED: Pacquiao TKOs Matthysse in 7th round; captures WBA welterweight belt

By Vivem Soriano Eagle News Service Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao scored the 60th win of his 23-year career with a sensational 7th round TKO victory over Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse to capture the WBA regular welterweight belt at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This is Pacquiao’s first stoppage win since his now famous 2009 12th round TKO victory over Puerto Rican boxer Miguel Cotto. The Filipino slugger dominated Matthysse from the opening bell, […]

Filipino Tepora stops Ortega to win featherweight world crown

by Daniel HICKS Agence France Presse KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) — Jhack Tepora gave fellow Filipino Manny Pacquiao a boost before his showdown with Lucas Matthysse on Sunday by stopping Mexico’s Edivaldo Ortega to win the interim World Boxing Association featherweight title. Cebu’s Tepora, fighting on the undercard of the Pacquiao-Lucas Matthysse world title bill in Kuala Lumpur, unleashed a wicked short right hand in the ninth round to knock down Ortega for the first […]

Belgium claims third place at World Cup with 2-0 win over England

  by Martyn Wood Agence France Presse Belgium achieved their best World Cup finish as goals from Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard secured a 2-0 victory over England in Saturday’s third-place playoff in Saint Petersburg. Meunier, who missed the semi-final loss to France due to suspension, scored after just four minutes before Hazard grabbed a late second as Belgium eclipsed the side that came fourth at the 1986 edition. Belgium have now defeated England twice […]

Manny Pacquiao’s most memorable bouts

By Vivem Soriano Eagle News Service On Sunday, July 15, Filipino ring icon and boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, the sport’s only 8-division world champion, will challenge Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse for the regular WBA welterweight belt at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Pacquiao currently holds a record of 59 wins with 38 knockouts, 7 losses and 2 draws. Matthysse, meanwhile, carries an impressive record of 39 wins, with 36 via knockout, 4 losses and […]

Rage against ‘The Machine’: Pacquiao puts career on line

by Daniel Hicks Agence France Presse KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) — Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao challenges Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse for the World Boxing Association welterweight belt on Sunday knowing defeat could lower the curtain on one of the greatest careers in boxing history. Pacquiao, 39, faced calls to retire from friends, family and even his Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach when he lost the WBO belt to journeyman Australian Jeff Horn a year […]

Serena Williams’s seven Wimbledon titles

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Serena Williams will face Angelique Kerber on Saturday hoping to win an eighth Wimbledon singles title. AFP Sport looks at the American legend’s previous seven final victories at the All England Club: 2002: bt Venus Williams (USA) 7-6, 6-3 — Aged 20, Serena already had two Grand Slam titles under her belt, but winning her first Wimbledon crown, at the expense of her sister Venus, was her true breakthrough moment. […]

The heavyweight battler bringing back ‘the old Pacquiao’

  by Daniel Hicks Agence France-Presse   KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) — If Manny Pacquiao wants to know all about comebacks, he need look no further than his conditioning coach Justin Fortune. The former heavyweight, who in 1995 went up against the great Lennox Lewis, found himself in an altogether different fight when a dental check-up four years ago discovered he had throat cancer. “What do you do? You either roll over and die or […]