Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/358967
maltatoday, Wednesday, 6 august 2014 22 Sport BOXING FOOTBALL Jamie moore, the former european light-middleweight champion, was recovering in hospital on monday night after being shot in marbella. moore admitted he was "gutted and confused" after being shot twice in the legs. The Salford native has confirmed he was attacked in the Spanish town, where he is training the Birming- ham middleweight matthew mack- lin, over the weekend and is now in hospital. moore, a likeable family man, was reportedly shot at five times and hit twice, in the leg and hip. it is understood that the 35-year- old is under armed guard at hospital, where he underwent operations on the back of his left leg and his hip. macklin took to Twitter to offer re- assurance about the fighter. "Just to let everyone know Jamie moore is still in hospital but he's OK," mack- lin said. "He was shot in his legs but the doctors have said there shouldn't be any serious or permanent damage done." macklin is now based in marbel- la, where he has his own gym, and recently appointed moore as his trainer. The two men are former oppo- nents, having engaged in an epic battle in 2006 which moore won by knockout. "Just to let everyone know Jamie moore is still in hospital but he's ok," macklin said on Twitter. moore was due to be in macklin's corner for his ring return against Jorge Sebastian Heiland in Dublin on 30 august. moore used his Twitter account to reveal he is recovering from the as- sault. "Thanks for all the well wishes. Overwhelmed. Gutted and confused about what happened, but thank God i'm ok. X," moore tweeted. "it's at times like this that you real- ise how well your thought of. i've had unbelievable support. means a lot it really does. #BoxingFamily." Spain midfielder Xavi has announced his retirement from international football. The Barcelona player, 34, was part of the teams that won successive major tournaments at euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup in South africa and euro 2012. He was capped 133 times, more than any other Spanish outfield player, and scored 13 goals. Xavi's inf luence on Spain and Barcelona's endless list of triumphs turned him into a legend for club and country. He told a press conference in Barce- lona: "i'm grateful for all those years. it has been a fantastic time." Xavi made his full Spain debut on 15 november 2000, aged 20, against the netherlands. "i'm not 20 anymore, but i still have the motivation of a kid," he said. "From now on i'm another fan of the Spain team. i'm grateful to everybody at the Federation (RFeF), it's been a marvellous time for me to be there for so many years and have so much suc- cess. i'm leaving very proud and i wish them all the best." Xavi was voted player of the tourna- ment at the 2008 european Champi- onships as Spain ended a 44-year wait for a major international trophy and began a period of domination of the world stage. The midfielder admitted that he was due to retire after euro 2012, but was persuaded to continue by coach Vice- nte del Bosque. "i was going to retire after euro 2012 but head coach Vicente del Bosque persuaded me to stay on and go to Brazil which was of course a huge dis- appointment for everyone and myself individually. after euro 2012, it was generally understood i was going to be leaving after Brazil 2014. i hope Del Bosque stays as manager at Spain because i don't think there is a better man for the job. i want to thank every- one involved in that team for the way they treated me and the respect and i could not wish for a better time as an international." Spain started the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as one of the favourites but were dumped out of the tournament in the group stages after a 5-1 humiliation at the hands of the netherlands and a 2-0 loss to Chile. Spain legend Xavi retires from international duty Xavi retired following a trophy- laden career with the Spanish national side Former European champion Jamie Moore shot in Spain