Annual convention: Uzbekistan ready to welcome entire pugulist family

By  Ali Mphaki

The most important boxing event of the year, the 2023 World Boxing Council annual Convention November 12-17 will be held in Tashkent, “The City of Stone” in Uzbekistan.

Rock solid Tashkent,  is the economic and cultural hub of Uzbekistan and one of the richest cities in all of Central Asia combining and interweaving history and tradition, with its charm and elegance, while offering spectacular views of an oriental city with its wide avenues, succulent restaurants and beautiful buildings, which will adorned in Green and Gold.

The organizers and the people of Uzbekistan are proud, eager and enthusiastic to welcome the entire WBC family and show the world that it is a magnificent and hospitable country looking forward to hosting boxing`s greatest event.

As hosts, Tashkent and the WBC are preparing a truly memorable convention, where there will have important presentations, medical seminars, world rankings, mandatory fight sessions, awards ceremonies, gala dinners, seminars for boxing officials. ring, judges and referees, WBC Cares visits, among other activities; always working with the firm purpose and constant intention of continuing paramount safety and health of the fighters.

And guess what?

 Among the sports greats so far who have confirmed their attendance is Mike Tyson and Roberto “Hands of Stone” Duran. Born in New York in 1966 and named Michael Gerard Tyson, his career spans a sphere from many different eras and tastes in history. Tyson has not only been a great boxer, but an inspiration and an icon.

Tyson twice won the world title in the 1980s, being the youngest champion in history to hold aloft the heavyweight title, when on November 22, 1986, he defeated Trevor Berbick at just 20 years old, 4 months and 22 days

Mike Tyson, a member of the Canastota Hall of Fame, is currently in good shape and keeps himself busy tending to his personal business.

Roberto Duran was born on June 16, 1951, in the neighborhood of Chorrillo, Panama. Passionate about sport since his childhood, aged just sixteen, Roberto made his debut in professional boxing in 1967.

Possessor of phenomenal granite punching power, “Hards of Stone” pressured, harried and stunned rivals, often cutting off the ring and trapping them on the ropes, where he ruthlessly applied “The finishing touches.”

 With an almost perfect timing, up came the opportunity to fight for the WBC lightweight title against Esteban De Jesus, who in a previous fight had sent him to the canvas, defeating Roberto by points, when he was out of sorts, recovering from flu. This time Roberto totally overwhelmed and stopped Esteban.

On June 20, 1980, and after defeating former welterweight champion Carlos Palomino, the golden night Duran had dreamed of, finally arrived. He was fighting Sugar Ray Leonard for the WBC welterweight title. Roberto became the new champion; nevertheless, months later, Leonard recovered the title.

On February 24, 1989 in a rugged encounter, Roberto won the WBC middleweight championship against American Iran Barkley, in Atlantic City. Before that he had won the super welterweight title.

Throughout his fabulous career Roberto Duran faced down rivals, and tore into them. The red badge of courage roll call of honor includes: Hector  “Macho” Camacho, Sugar Ray Leornard, Thomas Hearns, Wilfredo Benitez, Pipino Cuevas, among many others.

His last fight was against Hector Camacho on July 14, 2001. He had won 4 world crowns in five divisions!

FINAL PREPS FOR THE NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE

Fine-tuning: The Gary Player country club course closed until tournament week

By Sports Reporter

The Nedbank Golf Challenge has entered its final phase of preparation for this year’s tournament and with the focus now on fine-tuning the famed Gary Player Country Club course ahead of the November 9-12 DP World Tour tournament at Sun City.

 Sunday saw the playing of the traditional Final Round for sponsors and media, which signals the closing of the golf course until tournament week.

“The Final Round is one of our longstanding traditions with our sponsors and invited media. It’s an opportunity for them to play the golf course before we officially close it to the public ahead of the tournament,” said Tournament Director, Ken Payet.

 The famed Gary Player Country Club course will now be allowed to reach its peak condition for this year’s tournament as it prepares to welcome a 66-man DP World Tour field that already includes defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, Justin Thomas, Max Homa and Ockie Strydom.

 “The next three weeks is an important period of time for us to give the golf course a rest and also for our course staff to focus on the manicuring and attention to detail. This is the time when we fine tune the golf course from a player’s perspective. We have a very high expectation of the standard we want this course to be at for tournament week,” said Payet.

 “At the moment the golf course is looking very good. It’s now all about the golf course peaking for that week of the Nedbank Golf Challenge. The stars need to align in terms of the weather and just the right amount of rain. It’s about hitting that sweet spot with Mother Nature.”

Payet has already identified what he believes will be the key holes at this year’s tournament.

 “There are a few holes on this golf course where you can win or lose the tournament. Last year Tommy Fleetwood took excellent advantage of the par fives. The par-four eighth hole is always critical for me because it’s such a tough hole and traditionally plays as one of the toughest. You can make a birdie or a tiple bogey there. The par-five ninth hole is another important hole. We try and set it up that the professionals can go for the green in two and make eagle there. The par-five 10th is also pivotal as a hole where you can make birdies and eagles.

The par-five 14th is a phenomenal hole with the green guarded by bunkers. And then the par-four 18th is a hole where over the past few years we’ve tried to have an accessible final round pin placement.

When you’re chasing a leader it is difficult to make a birdie on the last with a back right pin, so we’ve tried to make the pin placement more accessible. Those are holes that can make a difference and where it can go either way for a player.”

 With three weeks until the start of this year’s Nedbank Golf Challenge, Payet says the interest in this year’s tournament has been incredible.

 “We’re very excited about this year’s field. It’s been eight months of negotiations with the best players in the world. Our player committee team has done phenomenally well, and Gary Player in particular has provided immense assistance in helping us secure some of the world’s best players at Sun City. The interest from the public has already been incredible.”